Friday, April 4, 2008

Brown itching to coach again

Former Kansas boss: 'I want to get back so bad'

By Associated Press

Advertisement

Philadelphia — Larry Brown hasn't officially coached a basketball game in nearly two years, but his head and heart remain in the game, and he said on Wednesday that he hoped to land a head coaching job, either in the NBA or in college, for next season.

"I've got to figure out if I can get a coaching job," Brown said. "I want to get back so bad. I'm so bored."

Twenty years ago tonight, the Kansas University team coached by Brown defeated Oklahoma in the NCAA championship game.

In January 2007, the 76ers hired Brown as their executive vice president, and he has assisted head coach Maurice Cheeks in evaluating players. Brown also has been a mainstay at Villanova practices, offering Jay Wright support and suggestions on offensive sets.

Although he has had coaching offers since he was fired after one tumultuous season with the New York Knicks in 2005-06, Brown has not found the right opportunity. Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers offered him an assistant job last year, as did Marquette coach Tom Crean, now the head coach at Indiana. Brown also interviewed for the Princeton job.

Brown coached the Sixers for six seasons, leading them to the 2001 NBA Finals. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Brown said he did not have a preference between the college and pro games. He just wants to coach again.

"Mo (Cheeks) has been great to me and allowed me to get involved," the 67-year-old Brown said.

"I just miss it. I don't miss the games so much, but I miss being around the coaches and the players. I still have something to offer. . ... After my last experience (in New York), I just want to go where I can do a better job and move forward."

Comments

GIHAWK (anonymous) says...

T. Boone may be a calling to Larry...

April 4, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

CaramelMacchMan (anonymous) says...

that would be perfect for 3 to 4 yrs.... Brown should accept OSU job for sure..
Or i say Mark Few(Gonzaga) is perfect.

April 4, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KUbsee69 (anonymous) says...

NO NO NO, not Coach Brown at OSU. I wouldn't want to see KU play against him, ever!

The only place in the BigXII I'd want to see Coach Brown would be at KU, should Coach Self decide to move on to the NBA.

April 4, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

wats211 (anonymous) says...

if t boone makes an offer to bill self that he cant refuse....larry is my choice...as far as mark few at osu....no way...but i like few...i wanted him as coach here after roy...but few saw what happenned to his friend at minnesota..so he knows that going to a bigger school doesnt mean winning....osu won ncaa championships in the past..never as okla state...as okla a&m....the tradition is 60 yrs removed...so building that back isnt easy...osu needs self....and only self to do that...so that opens the door for larry here...which would be ok with all of us,,...but we hope bill self stays here

April 4, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk3 (anonymous) says...

I think Larry would be a perfect Coach for Western Kentucky...

April 4, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

merrill (anonymous) says...

Maybe in Slapout, Oklahoma.... at the high school.

He's been out toooooo long and almost 70.

April 4, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

b1afide (anonymous) says...

LB at KU with Danny as asst. head coach for some more grooming before a KS man finally is at the helm.

Only if Bill leaves of course....

April 4, 2008 at 3 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kushaw (anonymous) says...

Finally a story about KU on cnnsi.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008...

April 4, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JJHAWK (anonymous) says...

If you remembered Larry's recruiting classes you wouldn't be suggesting him for KU - again. Or ever. He is not a college level dynasty builder. Remember what the state of Kansas basketball was when Larry opted to chogey off into the night? Please tell me you don't want us to return to that!

Larry is undoubtedly the best X's and O's coach I have ever seen at the college level, but he is far from the best college coach. Roy and Bill both top him - easily. Of the three, I am certain time will show Bill Self is by far the best choice for Kansas. Roy, for all the successes KU experienced in the 15 great years he gave us, was very inconsistent in his recruiting. Never could recruit the east coast in his time here. And do you remember the recruiting classes where he completely struck out getting only one guy who never got much playing time. Bill's recruiting classes have been impressive - every year. That's dynasty building.

And as far as the X's & O's of coaching go, myself, I like Bill because I believe in the old adage: offense lures fans, defense wins championships. And I'm not the only one that likes Bill. The basketball guru and very successful coach Jerry Tarkanian, who had shared practice techniques with Roy, called Bill Self the best young basketball coach in America.

Think of it the other way around. How would you like to be facing Bill Self three times a year with him being the head coach of the Missouri Tigers. Self, Snyder, and Missouri athletic officials were all in the same hotel when they chose Snyder over Self. With his recruiting abilities, Self would have built a monster at Missouri.

My comment on that: Thank you Missouri for being Missouri!

April 4, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

My take is that college BBall has evolved into 2 main philosophies: top programs that get top30 players (McD AA-types), and other programs that get players who stay all four years and steadily improve by the time they are upperclassmen (the more traditional way). So, you can have a coach who is a whiz at recruiting, and keeps it up, because he knows he will need to replace these "stars" as they bolt for the $$. Or the coach at a lesser program or midmajor that really teaches the xs and Os and tries to build the 'team' philosophy, and often will be quite successful (think Davidson, Gonzaga, the "B's" of recent memory, etc...). Then you have Bill Self, who in my opinion, has succeeded in doing BOTH. Came in and taught a half-court offense that has become a zone-busting, well oiled display; he made the kids see the value of tight defense and how it can fuel the transition highlights. And he got top-tier talent to play as a team, without egos (!!!). Brilliant team offense+team defense. Can Larry Brown do this? Self is proven to me in this regard. But the kids still have to play the games, and 3 teams will go home and only 1 gets the W. Winning or losing this weekend will NOT dampen my appreciation of what Self has done for KU Ball--he took the highlight offense we all loved, and added to it to make something deep and SOLID. I only hope we win it all, as too many see that as the only real validation. Go KU!

April 4, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

speedy (anonymous) says...

jerry tarkanian for anything ? not even dog catcher. hes the only coach i know of to be fired for ncaa violations at 3 schools! let him sell autos in las vegas ,where he does, and leave him out of anything to do with KU.

April 4, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )