UPDATE (6:43 PM PT) – According to Jeff Borzello, there is mutual interest between Mike D’Antoni and Marshall University should the Lakers move in a different direction:
“If he isn’t with the Lakers, I believe he will be at Marshall because there is mutual interest.”
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The Lakers are currently in the midst of one of the worst seasons in their storied career. Fair or not, head coach Mike D’Antoni is taking most of the heat for the team’s poor performance, despite the team being marred by injuries throughout the entire season.
With many expecting the Lakers to go in a different direction next season, D’Antoni’s alma mater has reached out to him, according to Jeff Goodman and Marc Stein of ESPN:
Marshall University has reached out to Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni to gauge his interest in coaching his alma mater, according to sources close to the process.
Should D’Antoni decide to make the switch to college basketball it would be a major transition for the former Marshall guard. D’Antoni has only coached professional basketball in his tenure and is most known for his days in Phoenix, where he came to fame under the seven seconds or less offense.
Despite the interest on Marshall’s side, D’Antoni is not expected to take the job even if the Lakers decide to move on from him, via ESPN:
But sources stressed D’Antoni is highly unlikely to make such a switch even if the Lakers opt for a change at season’s end.
With D’Antoni’s offense focused around certain types of players, many have felt that his coaching style may be more suited for the college game, where he would have the ability to bring in players to fit his system.
While an opportunity to coach at the university for whom he played four seasons may entice him, D’Antoni would most certainly want to remain in the NBA.
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Despite all of the injuries, D’Antoni has done a decent job of keeping the team competitive in most games. If given the right personnel for his system, D’Antoni has proven that he is capable of coaching a highly successful team. That team just may not be the Lakers.
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