(Orlando, FL) – The Gainesville Mighty Oaks have signed AJ Stallworth as the first coach in franchise history.
Stallworth brings an exceptional playing resume that includes championships at the High School (Wenonah High School, Alabama), college (Life University, NAIA 1), and minor league level (Decatur Court Kings, WBA). Most recently, he was the Head Coach of the ABA’s St. Augustine Glory.
Stallworth will assume both the role of Head Coach and General Manager, and will play a vital, public role in building the team’s presence in Gainesville.
“AJ’s enthusiasm and credentials made this an easy decision for me,” said Mighty Oaks Owner David Smith. “If you want to build a winning, championship-caliber team, you find a leader who has won. AJ is a winner.”
The team has tentatively scheduled their first open tryout in June, but Stallworth intends to rely on recruiting to build their inaugural team.
“This is such a great opportunity to build a minor league team in a place like Gainesville,” said Stallworth. “I’m blessed to have a lot of connections in the industry that helps with recruiting, but Gainesville has plenty of talent already. We should have no issue building a strong basketball program right away.”
Preparations are underway for the 2020 FBA season, but it is unknown when the Mighty Oaks will host their first home game in Gainesville, given the safety and health concerns stemming from COVID-19.
“It’s certainly a tough time to build a professional sports team, that’s for sure,” said Smith. “I’m optimistic though. The FBA has some great things planned, with lots of exciting things on the horizon. We’ll do our best with what we have, build a competitive team, and certainly represent Gainesville with pride and might!”
For more information about the Mighty Oaks, the team can be found on all social media platforms. You can also visit www.gainesvillemightyoaks.com.
The FBA is a Florida-based professional basketball league providing a development, branding and exposure platform for athletes, referees and other individuals seeking to further their professional basketball career.
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