Howie Landa, one of the finest U.S. junior college basketball coaches of all time, is the Rizing Fukuoka's first head coach, the bj-league expansion team announced. He agreed to a one-year contract, which begins September 1. Landa, 75, graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia in 1950 and then starred at Lebanon (Pa.) Valley College. He played in the Eastern Pro League in the 1950s. Landa later coached at Mercer (N.J.) County College for 26 years, winning the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association title two times in four appearances and earning national coach of the year honors three times. Landa also earned a paycheck as a New York Knicks assistant coach during his distinguished career. He joined Jerry Tarkanian's UNLV staff in 1989 and was an interim head coach there in 1994. He also served five years as an assistant coach for the university's Runnin' Rebels' women's squad. In recent years, Landa has worked as a WNBA scout, been an assistant coach for the Phoenix Mercury and authored a book on women's basketball. In addition, Landa is a member of 10 basketball halls of fame.
