May 7, 2008

DeKalb, Illinois - Sports Reach announced on Tuesday (May 5) that Northern Illinois associate head men's basketball coach Dennis Gates will serve as an assistant coach for the Reach USA Basketball Team that will be touring China from May 11-25.

Reach USA, a division of Sports Reach, will compete in eight exhibition games during the tour against various Chinese Professional Teams. The head coach of the squad is University of Illinois assistant coach and a former AAU teammate of Gates, Jerrance Howard.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to coach Reach USA against some of the best teams that China has to offer," Gates said. "I hope to represent not only Northern Illinois, but the United States, to the best of my abilities."

The Reach USA squad is comprised of mostly players from the Southeastern Conference and also includes recent Northern Illinois transfer Xavier Silas (Austin, Texas/Brewster Academy (N.H.)/Colorado).

Sports Reach is a Christian Sports Ministry whose purpose is reaching the world for Christ through sports.

Follow Gates' trip online as he will provide a daily blog which can be found on www.niuhuskies.com.

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