Dunlap close to joining Olson's staff at Arizona

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 07:24 p.m., May 6, 2008
Updated 11:53 p.m., May 6, 2008

Rumblings soon might start about whether Mike Dunlap eventually could succeed Lute Olson as coach at the University of Arizona.

Olson would like to head them off at the pass.

"We're getting way ahead of ourselves," Olson, 73, told the Rocky Mountain News on Tuesday about whether Dunlap, a Nuggets assistant the past two seasons, could be his successor.

Olson said the ball is in Dunlap's court whether he'll become Arizona's associate head coach. Barring the unforeseen, he will.

"I think they're good," Dunlap, who confirmed he has been offered the job, said of his chances of taking it.

Olson anticipates Dunlap will be in Tucson this weekend to tour the campus, and Olson is optimistic about Dunlap being named to his staff early next week.

But Dunlap said he has some personal business and is unsure whether he'll be on campus this weekend. Dunlap said he will fly to Tucson soon, and, while planning to join Arizona, wants one more meeting with Olson before finalizing matters.

"I'm very impressed with him," said Olson, who said he flew to Denver to interview Dunlap and did so after the Lakers ended the Nuggets' season April 28. "He's a very knowledgeable coach. . . . He'll come (to Tucson) and we'll have a final talk."

Olson was asked what Dunlap's Arizona duties might entail.

"He'd be involved with recruiting," said Olson, who has known Dunlap for more than a decade. "I'd like to see him work on the defensive end. He'd be great working with big guys."

Asked whether there have been discussions about possibly being Olson's successor, Dunlap said, "We didn't get near that."

Dunlap told the Arizona Daily Star that Olson told him he expects to coach four or five more years. Dunlap interviewed Saturday for the Chicago Bulls' coaching position and admits he's a long shot. He expects "some closure" soon.

Dunlap also has been in the mix for several college coaching positions. So why might he take a nonhead coaching position?

"It's one of the top 20 programs," said Dunlap, who coached Metro State to two NCAA Division II titles and has a professed fondness for the college game. "Their history speaks for itself. It would be a chance to learn from (Olson)."

• May 6, 2008

  7:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Bichette10 writes:

  Being a Nuggets fan & Arizona alum... This shocks me. I don't know much about Dunlap, but I do know the Nuggets play the worst Defense in the league. Why would a terrible defensive Arizona squad hire a Nuggets coach?

• May 6, 2008

  8:59 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  roadrunner1995 writes:

  Bichette10, you need to do your homework before you post a comment. Coach Dunlap won 2 NCAA DivII National Championships as the head coach at Metro State. He has a great basketball mind and is more suited to coach at the college level.

• May 6, 2008

  9:47 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Bichette10 writes:

  I imagine his skills may be better suited for the college game. The Nuggets sure didn't listen to any of the coaches this year. Again... worst defense in the league.

• May 7, 2008

  11:24 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  MisterD writes:

  How about job security, Dunlap can see the writing on the wall. G. Karl & staff will soon be gone.

• May 7, 2008

  1:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  jet13175 writes:

  Bichette10, there's a bg difference between the college game & the pro game. College kids tend to listen to their coaches, as opposed to these multi-million dollar prima donnas who play in the NBA. As A Zona fan, I love the possibilites of Dunlap being in Tucson. He's a good recruiter, can recruit over seas & is a good teacher of the game. He'll be a huge addition to that Arizona coaching staff.

• May 7, 2008

  4:24 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  azbear writes:

  Arizona fan who believes it's time for Lute to get some new blood on the coaching staff. Rosborough and O'Neill needed to be somewhere else.

  If Dunlap's as good as Lute thinks, he'll do well to escape the MESS that is the NBA, and the Nuggs NOW.