May 5, 2008 11:58 PM

Nuggets' Dunlap being courted

CHRIS TOMASSON ON THE NUGGETS

A well-established member of the Chicago media, hearing Mike Dunlap had interviewed to be Bulls head coach, professed to know nothing about Dunlap.
That's not surprising. He might be the best coach around few have heard about.
Then again, people in basketball know all about Dunlap, who recently completed his second season as a Nuggets assistant. When Dunlap was up for the California head position earlier this spring, legendary former Bears coach Pete Newell gushed about him.
For somebody that might not be known nationally, Dunlap is sure getting a lot of attention these days. Not only did he confirm Monday he interviewed with the Bulls, he said he interviewed last week to be associate coach at Arizona under Lute Olson.
Also this spring, Dunlap, who led Metro State to a pair of NCAA Division II crowns before joining the Nuggets, was contacted by Stanford, Oregon State, Loyola Marymount and Rice. He declined to interview at the latter three, apparently not believing they were the type of situations where he could have the long-term success he seeks.
Dunlap called himself a "dark horse'' candidate with the Bulls. At last look, Bulls brass was hot after Mike D'Antoni, who wants to out of Phoenix.
With Dunlap having been in the mix for so many college head positions, one wonders why he's flirting with Arizona, where he is a strong candidate. But consider for a moment this isn't your ordinary assistant's position.
If it worked out, as noted earlier, Dunlap would have the title "associate head coach.'' It sounds as if it could a similar situation as to what Kevin O'Neill had.
O'Neill took as interim coach last season when Olson sat out with personal problems, and eventually was named the man who would succeed Olson, 73, when he steps down. Alas, O'Neill eventually fell out of favor and has left Arizona.
While I don't know if there's any possibility Dunlap could be Olson's eventual successor, you've got to wonder if it's a possibility. The two have a relationship going back to the mid-1990s.
One thing is for sure. Nuggets coach George Karl, who speaks glowingly of Dunlap, would hate to lose him. But Karl has been saying for a while he thinks the day will come when it happens.
Dunlap lauded Karl on Monday. He said the respect Karl commands is a key reason he's been getting so much interest lately for jobs.
One gets the feeling Dunlap, who loves developing players, might be happier long term as a college than a pro coach. But only time will tell if that is the case. If Dunlap were to leave the Nuggets for Arizona, where he wouldn't be the head man, then it would become readily apparent he's a college guy at heart.

Posted by Chris Tomasson at 11:58 PM | Comments (1)