BREAKING: Dunlap Officially Declines LMU

[ADG'99]

www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/29/colleges-looking-nuggets-dunlap/?printer=1/

Colleges looking at Nuggets' Dunlap

By Chris Tomasson

Originally published 11:32 p.m., March 29, 2008
Updated 11:49 p.m., March 29, 2008

Nuggets assistant coach Mike Dunlap said he's turned down overtures for college head coaching jobs at Loyola Marymount and Rice, but has not been contacted by California.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported an unnamed source as saying Dunlap is a candidate for the California job to replace the fired Ben Braun. The paper named Washington State coach Tony Bennett as a frontrunner, although he's also in the mix for the Indiana job.

"It was speculation,'' Dunlap said of the story. "It was a call from a guy from the Chronicle because some names were on a blog.''

Dunlap said he's had "zero'' contact with California. Asked if he would be interested in the job if the school were to reach out, "I would have to listen to the criteria, what they're looking for.''

Dunlap said he was contacted last week regarding the Loyola Marymount and Rice openings. Loyola Marymount is his alma mater.

While Dunlap did not give Rice serious consideration, he informed Nuggets officials about the contact with Loyola Marymount. And he gave thought to the job before bowing out.

"We're making a push,'' Dunlap said about the Nuggets. "I told Loyola my focus is trying to get this done. I feel honored. But I'm keeping my focus here.''

Dunlap, who led Metro State to two NCAA Division II titles before joining the Nuggets prior to last season, said he's quite content in the pros. But he didn't rule out a possible return to college, saying he would consider it "if something out of the Big 12 or Pac-10 or something like that'' were to surface.

Nuggets coach George Karl is confident Dunlap will stay, and doesn't believe any possible college job situation will be a distraction.

"I think he's ready to do whatever he needs to do to win,'' Karl said. "I don't think we have to worry about Mike Dunlap.''

[ironlions]

Maybe he read this board and realized he is our second choice.

[bankman44]

Either Dunlap knows he is getting the Cal Job or Husak wasn't able to guarantee the recruiting budget and assistant coach salaries that Dunlap wanted when he was offered the USF job.

Tony Bennett just turned down IU, and he isnt going to Cal. IU gets Monty, and we get screwed.

Maybe Dunlap pointed out the weakness in our Athletic Department. The right coach is only half of it, you need the recruiting budget and some good assistants. Ken Bone is a great X's and O's coach, but what can he do at LMU with out any support.

Bankman,

[lionspride]

bankman44 said:

Either Dunlap knows he is getting the Cal Job or Husak wasn't able to guarantee the recruiting budget and assistant coach salaries that Dunlap wanted when he was offered the USF job.

Tony Bennett just turned down IU, and he isnt going to Cal. IU gets Monty, and we get screwed.

Maybe Dunlap pointed out the weakness in our Athletic Department. The right coach is only half of it, you need the recruiting budget and some good assistants. Ken Bone is a great X's and O's coach, but what can he do at LMU with out any support.

Bankman,

I look at Dunlap's decline two ways:
1) He is a very serious coach, knows what he needs and wants to win (commitment from the university, etc.), and is not going to jeopordize his Denver job for just any opening. He interviewed for the USF opening in 2004 and walked out because he did not get the university's support for the budget. Does this decline mean that he KNOWS LMU is still not serious about winning?
2) Does his decline last week mean that Monty is not interviewing as well? How can Monty want the job if Dunlap feels that the university cannot support a winning program?

All speculation at this point, but it does seem like our choices are narrowing. If Monty was a "sure thing" with Husak, Husak would not just lob a call to a former alumni and decent coach, Dunlap, to turn him down for a job (knowing that Monty will accept). NASA, I think we have a problem.

I think we should start finding that defibulator that could not be found for Hank in Gersten, because we are going to need it. If Husak does not get Monty, I think Husak is messing with fire on any hire that is on the Los Angeles Time, Los Angeles Daily News, and, the LA Loyolan list of potential candidates.

HUSAK better hope and prayer for intervention. I just cannot believe he would not have a person in his back pocket (serious candidate who expressed interest through his agent) when making the firing of Tention. Husak better know his job is on the line with this search. I hope that Lawton and Bove has told him this. Lawton needs a conference championship by 2011.

[fanblade]

bankman44 said:

Either Dunlap knows he is getting the Cal Job or Husak wasn't able to guarantee the recruiting budget and assistant coach salaries that Dunlap wanted when he was offered the USF job.

Maybe Dunlap pointed out the weakness in our Athletic Department. The right coach is only half of it, you need the recruiting budget and some good assistants. Ken Bone is a great X's and O's coach, but what can he do at LMU with out any support.

Dunlap didn't give us many tea leaves to work with. Sounds like he was never interested in the job. With his increased paycheck and experience working with the pros it looks like he does not want to start off with a mid-major job rather PAC-10 or Big-12 if he leaves Denver. Considering the Nuggets improved season he is probably getting comfortable. Unfortunate for us.