Some Information on Mike Dunlap

by dvieira on Apr 1, 2009 2:00 PM PDT in Oregon Ducks Basketball

Ernie is staying. Some of you are happy, some of you are not. One thing is true, he will have a new assistant on staff and that may be the very thing he needs to squelch some of the criticisms that the anti-Ernie crowd has. Mike Dunlap has been in and out of the news a lot over the past year for Arizona. Here's some background. Dunlap was originally offered the interim (key word there) Arizona job after Lute Olson retired but eventually turned it down. Here's a quote from SI:

"I said, 'If you give me or anybody else the interim label, you're going to lose four recruits that are high-end.' That's not a good way to deal with things, and I believe in doing things right."

I like this quote from Mike about the situation in Arizona. Things were blowing up all over the Wildcats program with Lute stepping aside. He knew what was going to happen, he stuck by his guns and told the powers that be what he thought. Although it sounds a little bit like sour grapes after the fact, given the situation he was placed in (and the next quote will show you what I mean), I'm surprised he didn't get more upset about the situation.

Mike Dunlap via blog.oregonlive.com

Another quote from the NY Times:

"Basically, what they said at that time was that I wasn't good enough to coach this team. Let’s face it. That's perfectly O.K. It's a huge corporation, it has huge tradition. I didn’t take it personally. I understood."

Key Facts - more here

- Was an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets for 2 seasons
- Won national titles at Division II Metro State (Colorado) in 2000 and 2002
- Coached professionally in Australia in 1995 and 1996, reaching the postseason
- Had a previous Pac-10 coaching gig under George Raveling at USC

Here's an article talking about how Mike Dunlap is off the court and his commitment to academics and other things. A great read and sounds like a stand up community-oriented guy. Academics is given quite a bit of play and should fit nicely with Ernie's current record on that. It also goes into Dunlap's relationship with his players.

How will Mike Dunlap be as an assistant coach? Here is a worksheet from a coaching clinic hosted by Mike Dunlap when he was working with Metro State. This worksheet screams fundamentals to me. I admit that I haven't seen something like this from Ernie but you have to get excited reading some of the statements from this document.

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Comments

Hopefully this turns out like Ernie's last "final chance"

When we went to the Elite 8….

Proud member of Duck nation!

by skywaker9 on Apr 1, 2009 2:16 PM PDT reply actions

Just to clarify my wording. He isn’t technically an “assistant”. He’s technically an “Associate Head Coach”.

--Dominic, Addicted to Quack

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Apr 1, 2009 3:01 PM PDT reply actions

very interesting distinction.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 1, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't that what Litz was?

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on Apr 1, 2009 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder what goals /conditions were set for Kent for next season

winning record?
20 win record?
top half of the PAC-10 standing?
post season tourney? is CBI acceptable ? NIT? NCAA?

by ximiankernel on Apr 1, 2009 3:23 PM PDT reply actions

Another interesting fact...

Dunlap was an assistant under Paul Westhead at LMU. Coincidence? I think not!

Hi, I'm Paul Thompson, and I'm a quack-aholic.

by PaulSF on Apr 1, 2009 5:10 PM PDT reply actions

Does anyone else feel like this move was made solely to give athletics the option to can Ernie mid-season next year if need be? This move screams “insurance policy” to me, that PK and crew want a proven head coach if we get off to a cold start next year.

It's spelled "M-A-R-C-H-I-N-G-B-A-N-D."

I support inroywetrust in his support of The VD Special in his support of me supporting Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Apr 1, 2009 8:57 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd

Nice Takimoto. And in that light, I feel pretty good about this move. Kinda feel like we need insurance.

The American dream....get you some.

by Ruprect on Apr 2, 2009 1:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I think that is exactly what this was…though I think Ernie would really have to crash and burn to get a mid-season firing. If things don’t go well – and let’s be honest, the Ducks probably will be picked to finish 9th or 10th next season – Kent’s replacement is in hand. The team is set for the immediate future and we don’t lose any recruits this way.