DETROIT -- Jeff Bower is returning to the NBA, this time to join the front office of the Detroit Pistons. Patrick Beverley Jersey . Detroit announced Tuesday that Bower had been hired as the teams new general manager, part of an off-season overhaul in which Stan Van Gundy was hired last month as the coach and team president. Bower was the coach at Marist College last season, but he resigned that position Monday. "Im excited to join the Pistons organization and play a role in helping this franchise build on its great basketball tradition," Bower said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Stan, his staff and everyone in the Pistons organization to put together a team that the community can support and be proud of. Im also excited about ownerships commitment to winning and their demonstrated commitment to the community." The Pistons called a news conference for Wednesday to introduce Bower. Bower has been a general manager and coach in the NBA, holding both those positions with the New Orleans Hornets in 2009-10. "Jeff brings great basketball knowledge and NBA experience to our organization and hes enjoyed success in building teams," Van Gundy said. "Hes a great evaluator of talent and Jeff will bring solid leadership to our front office." Bower was the general manager of the Hornets from 2001-03 and again from 2005-10. Marist went 12-19 this past season under Bower, which was a two-game improvement from 2012-13. "I have a lot of respect for Jeff and the job he did in his time at Marist," athletic director Tim Murray said. "He laid the foundation for the program moving forward and I feel that this is a great opportunity for our next head coach. I wish Jeff the best of luck as he leaves Marist for a very specific and compelling NBA opportunity." The Pistons went 29-53 last season, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. That was the end of Joe Dumars tenure as team president. Van Gundys coaching is well respected -- he went 371-208 in seven-plus seasons with Miami and Orlando -- but now hell have the added responsibility of handling personnel matters. Its rare for one person to have that much control in the NBA, so Bower may play an important role in shaping the franchises future. Austin Rivers Jersey . -- A year ago, Flavia Pennetta was close to retiring from tennis. Brice Johnson Jersey . The unrestricted free agent agreed to terms with the club on Thursday on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. http://www.clippersnbateamshop.com/danilo-gallinari-clippers-jersey/ . -- Fresh off their surprising run in the playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers have signed head coach Terry Stotts to a multi-year contract extension.Dwight Yorke has branded Aston Villa manager Remi Garde a big disappointment and believes his former club are doomed to suffer relegation from the top flight for the first time since 1987. Villa are bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety with just eight games left to play ahead of their live on Sky clash with Swansea on Saturday Night Football.Garde has won just three out of 22 matches since replacing Tim Sherwood in November. You expect some kind of energy in store when your new manager comes in, shows a little bit of passion and little bit of fight, Yorke told Sky Sports News HQ.They have nothing to lose and Ive not seen that coming from the manager, Ive not seen it from the players and I feel that over the period of time that Remi Garde has taken over at Aston Villa he hasnt shown me anything that he can get Aston Villa out of this situation.For me that is the biggest disappointment, when a manager comes in he tries to make an impact and Remi Garde has failed to do that so far and I feel that has generated throughout the team. Dwight Yorke thinks hes the man to bring Aston Villa back into the Premier League if theyre relegated this season The team is looking extremely low at this point in time and I have to say they look are going to be playing in the Championship. Wesley Johnson Jersey. If I was to be given that job, Im sure, Im convinced that I can do a really good job in terms of getting them back into the Premier League. Also See: No guarantees for Garde CEO Fox leaves Villa Premier League table Sky Live: Swansea v Aston Villa Cheap Authentic Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2018 Cheap Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Authentic Jerseys Cheap Authentic Jerseys ' ' '