Mark Jackson is probably known more as an analyst than as a coach these days, but he still has a real desire to return to the latter capacity.
In an interview this week on ESPN’s “First Take,” the former Golden State Warriors head coach said that he wanted to coach again in the NBA.
“There are 30 NBA jobs, so I don’t minimize myself to one,” said Jackson. “I look forward to one day coaching again. It’s a dream of mine. I’m not gonna slit my wrists if I never coach again because I believe that what’s mine is mine.
“I had an incredible time in Golden State, coaching for three years, developing incredible relationships, and having some success,” he continued. “I look forward to the challenge of doing it once again somewhere.”
Jackson, 55, coached the Warriors from 2011 to 2014 but never made it past the second round of the playoffs despite a certain degree of regular season success. Upon Golden State’s decision to replace him with Steve Kerr, they ripped off five straight Finals appearances including three championships.
Jackson has had his own triumphs as a broadcaster ever since, serving as a ubiquitous presence on ESPN telecasts and calling the Finals every year. He was, however, recently linked to the head coaching job for a team that he used to play for, so perhaps that chapter of Jackson’s life is not entirely over yet.
H/T Sportando
