PHILADELPHIA, PA - La Salle University men's basketball head coach Dr. John Giannini has announced the appointment of three members to his coaching staff for the 2004-05 season.

"La Salle has always had a strong tradition of having outstanding Philadelphia area players. That is something that we certainly want to continue," said Coach Giannini. "We have made our first three staff appointments and they all have very strong ties to Philadelphia basketball."

Joining the coach on the Explorer bench for his inaugural season at La Salle is former Drexel head coach Steve Seymour. Giannini referenced Seymour's success in recruiting the Philadelphia area. He spent a total of 10 total years at Drexel as a head coach ('99-'01) and as an assistant on Bill Herrion's squads that went to three consecutive NCAA tournaments. He was also an assistant to Rob Lanier at Siena College for the past four seasons. "[Steve] simply has a great reputation in the area and is a person that brings us a lot of experience and respect in the basketball community."

The Bridgewater State ('81) graduate spent four years as an assistant at St. Anselm prior to joining the Drexel staff.

The name Horace "Pappy" Owens is well known by all familiar with Philadelphia hoops as a former McDonald's All-America ('79) out of the City's Dobbins Tech.

"Coach Owens is one of the many truly outstanding basketball players that the city has produced," commented Coach Giannini. "There is no question that his reputation and relationships in the area will aid us in our recruiting efforts.

As the North Philadelphia Area Coordinator for the renown Sonny Hill Basketball League, Owens is a fixture in Philadelphia high school basketball. As coach of the Philadelphia Phoenix A.A.U teams for the past six years, he has mentored stand-outs Michael Blackshear (Simon Gratz), Wayne Marshall (Martin Luther King), Chaz Crawford (Northeast) and Troy Roundtree (Northeast) among dozens of others who have gone on to play Division I hoops.

Owens became one of the top all-time players at the University of Rhode Island ('79-'83) where he is fifth on the all-time scoring list (1,750) and ranks in the top five in several statistical categories. Owens was the 44th pick of the NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets in 1983 and was traded to the Philadelphia 76'ers where he spent one season at the professional level.

Harris Adler crosses town from the University of Pennsylvania where he was an assistant under Fran Dunphy for the past two seasons to assume the duties as the Explorers' Director of Basketball Operations.

Giannini describes Adler as "an intelligent and hard worker with outstanding character."

Prior to a brief stop at his alma mater (University of the Sciences - '98) he assisted at Centennary ('01-'02) and Salem County Community College ('98-'99). He began his career as a graduate assistant for two years at Rowan ('99-'01).

"He gives us another person with great familiarity of the area and experience in a winning program," added Giannini.

The Explorers open their season on Saturday, November 20 when they tip-off against James Madison at 2:00 PM at Tom Gola Arena