TORONTO -
Former Toronto point guard Alvin Williams is officially back in the Raptors' fold.
The Raptors added Williams and Francesco Cuzzolin to their basketball staff Wednesday, and re-signed assistant coach Eric Hughes.
The trio join assistants Marc Iavaroni, Alex English and Micah Nori on head coach Jay Triano's staff.
Williams, who's been working with the team while his contract was being ironed out, makes his first foray into coaching since retiring from playing in 2007.
One of the most beloved Raptors of all time, Williams played nine seasons with the team, averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 assists in 417 regular-season games, and 12.5 points and 4.3 assists in 78 playoff appearances.
One of Williams' most memorable moments was in Toronto's Game 5 victory over the New York Knicks in 2001, when he scored nine of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Raptors to their lone playoff series victory.
Williams will act as assistant coach/basketball development.
Hughes returns for his third season with the club, and his first as assistant coach/basketball development. He spent the past two seasons as a basketball development consultant.
Cuzzolin was named the team's strength and conditioning coach, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the professional basketball ranks.
Cuzzolin spent 12 of the past 13 seasons with Benetton Treviso in the Italian Serie A League where his teams won the Italian League, Italian Supercup or European Saprta cup on 10 occasions. He also captured the Euroleague championship with Virtus Bologna in 2001.
For the past three summers Cuzzolin has been the strength and conditioning coach for the Russian national team. He's also worked with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers during their summer training camps.
