Colangelo elected chairman of Basketball Hall of Fame board

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Former Phoenix Suns owner and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo has been named chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame board.

Colangelo previously served as vice chairman, and will begin his two-year term as chairman immediately.

Colangelo, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2004, says his goals as chairman are to preserve the history of the sport that was invented in Springfield in 1891 and expand the hall's international presence.

Hall of Fame Chief Executive John Doleva says Colangelo brings "confidence and excitement" to the museum's future.

After an all-conference stint at Illinois, Colangelo has spent his 40-year career in basketball, starting as head scout of the Chicago Bulls in 1966 and general manager of the Suns in 1968.