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Joerger says Grizzlies all together after changes

By WTOP Staff

CLAY BAILEY
Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies Coach Dave Joerger is doing his best to send the message that everyone in the franchise is on board with owner Robert Pera.

Joerger met with reporters Thursday in his first news conference since signing his new contract extension. He decided to stay in Memphis after interviewing twice with the Minnesota Timberwolves for their head coaching job.

The coach said he was surprised at the departure of chief executive officer Jason Levien and player personnel director Stu Lash after an apparent fallout with Pera. But Joerger added that there is more harmony now, and he feels more of a commitment from the owner.

“There’s a relief for me,” Joerger said. “It’s like ‘Whew,’ the owner and I are married now.’ This feels really good and really positive.”

It’s been a busy 14 months where Joerger went from assistant coach to head coach, hiring a staff, dealing with injuries to key players and winning 50 games to clinch the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference where the Grizzlies lost in the first round in seven games.

Then came the unexpected upheaval in the front office May 19. The franchise appeared to be in disarray with Levien and Lash out along with uncertainty over who would remain with the Grizzlies’ leadership. General manager Chris Wallace is in charge temporarily after having been pushed aside with Levien in charge.

Joerger said Pera is expected to take a more active role in decisions. Wallace also is expected to remain a part of the organization as the Grizzlies look for someone for the general manager’s role.

“When you look at the general manager’s situation, we want Chris (Wallace) to be involved in the organization,” Joerger said. “Right now, he’s helping get ready for the draft and stuff like that. I’m going to be involved in the candidates we bring in, no matter what the front office situation is going forward.”

The Grizzlies also start their pre-draft workouts Friday. Joerger said he is comfortable with the situation as the Grizzlies prepare for a draft where they have one pick — the 22nd overall.

The Minnesota native also said his interviews for the Timberwolves’ vacancy was simply the chance to move home. In the end, he decided to remain with the Grizzlies after a discussion with Pera and a contract extension announced Tuesday.

Joerger said he appreciated Pera providing him the opportunity to return home, permission other owners might not have granted. The coach said Pera told him the owner didn’t want Joerger taking the Minnesota job. When Joerger returned, the men talked about the future.

“We had a good really good heart-to-heart, one-on-one conversation and we have a very shared vision of what we can do here,” Joerger said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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