WILMINGTON, N.C. ? Former UNC Wilmington assistant men's basketball coach Dave Hanners, who strolled the sidelines in the early 80's as an assistant with the Seahawks, will return to the Port City this fall as a member of the Charlotte Bobcats' newly-revamped staff.

The Bobcats, who are expected to train at Trask Coliseum in early October, recently named Larry Brown as their third coach in five seasons. In a recent release issued by the club, Brown retained Phil Ford and Jeff Capel as assistant coaches and added Hanners to the staff.

Hanners and Brown have enjoyed success on the bench together. Hanners served as an assistant under Brown on Detroit's 2003-04 NBA Championship team and also worked for the well-traveled coach on the 2000-01 Philadelphia 76ers and the 2004-05 Detroit Pistons clubs that each won Eastern Conference titles.

No stranger to the coaching staff, Hanners also rejoins Ford, whom he played with at UNC Chapel Hill for two seasons and coached with under Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge for 11 seasons. Hanners and Ford also spent time coaching together with the Pistons and New York Knicks.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Hanners spent three years on the Seahawk bench coaching alongside Mel Gibson from 1981-1983.

After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in 1976, Hanners earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English as well as a Master's Degree in English two years later.