Billy Rodgers, head coach of the Ballard High School boy's basketball team, has joined the Seattle Sonics as a Basketball Outreach Manager.

Rodgers was hired on July 10 and immediately went to work overseeing Sonics basketball camps and clinics this summer.

He sold his business All Sports Unlimited, which was based in West Seattle.

"I'm on the basketball end of community relations," said Rodgers.

One of his projects is the Sonics and Storm Legends Tour, with former Sonic stars going out in the community to meet kids.

The Sonics and Storm Legends Tour is a build up to the Sonics celebrating their 40th Anniversary in the upcoming season.

"Sonics stars have shown a commitment to do community relations activities and programs. They are anxious to et out into the community," said Rodgers.

Both the previous ownership group headed by Howard Schultz and the Seattle Sonics/Seattle Storm's new owner Clay Bennett wanted to be more visible in the community.

Rodgers describes it as creating ties with youth basketball and getting the community energized about basketball.

Rodgers will have time to continue coaching at Ballard High, where he was the student body president his senior year, graduating in 1992. He was a player for the Beavers and became an assistant coach under Al Harada from 1993 to 1997.

He was the coach at North Seattle Community College for seven seasons and also coached at University Prep.

The Ballard players stayed together this summer and played 60 games in local leagues.

Rodgers is excited about the current freshman group coming in. Last year Ballard also had a strong freshman class.

"That's the foundation of the team, getting the freshmen and developing sophomores and juniors," said Rodgers.