Mike D’Antoni and Marshall reportedly have mutual interest
Don’t be surprised if Mike D’Antoni ends up coaching college basketball at Marshall next season.
While D’Antoni is still under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers through next season, the team’s poor season coupled with Kobe Bryant’s reported desire to have a different coach could mean the end of D’Antoni’s time in LA. If D’Antoni ends up fired, his alma mater would have interest in hiring him. And he reportedly has interest in returning home.
A source told CBS Sports’ Jeff Borzello that there is “mutual interest” between D’Antoni and Marshall. Borzello reports that Marshall has donors who would pay big money to get the longtime NBA coach if he is let go.
D’Antoni is from West Virginia and played at Marshall from 1970-73. The Thundering Herd last made the tournament in 1987.
Would D’Antoni drop down from coaching one of the most glamorous teams in professional sports to coaching a Conference USA basketball program? You have to figure he won’t get a high-profile NBA job in the future, so maybe he’ll feel like a low-pressure situation at Marshall is a good fit for him. I could see it happening.
