November 6, 2015

ST. LOUIS – The Midwest Professional Basketball Association has assumed control and ownership of the Chicago Force and Windy City Groove clubs, effective immediately, per league rules regarding ownership and team operation guidelines.

                “We had been in negotiations with previous ownership about how to fit their operations into the league model,” said C. Edward “Ed” Schumer, commissioner and chief executive officer of the MPBA.  “But it came to pass that we were not able to come to an agreement for 2016, and we had to exercise the option to assume control of both clubs,” Schumer said.

                The league, which owns the copyright and intellectual property rights of both teams’ names and logos, will retain Force head coach Rick Pryor and Groove head coach Handy Johnson, but has named a new general manager and assistant general manager for the 2016 season.

                Jay Carter takes over as general manager effective immediately, while Kelly Norris-Jones will serve as his assistant.

                “We’re excited to bring on Jay and Kelly in the front office for our Chicago teams,” said Schumer.  “They bring a great deal of business acumen and athletic experience to our teams there, and will be a tremendous asset to those teams and the league going forward,” Schumer said.

                Both teams will again play at the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center on the city’s Southwest side, as they did during the 2015 season.

                The 2016 MPBA season will tip off on January 9, 2016.