Larry Brown, Oldest Active Hall Of Fame Coach, Steps Down from Southern Methodist University

Larry Brown, a native of Brooklyn, resigned from his head coaching position at Southern Methodist University.  Brown did not say why he was stepping down, but that he wanted to speak with the team and the parents before speaking with anyone else.  In 2015 Brown led SMU to its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1993 and first AAC conference tournament championship since 1988.

According to ESPN, Brown resigned because he wanted a longer contract deal.  He had one year left on his contract and SMU athletic director Rick Hart said the school wanted to renew his contract until 2020, but Brown wanted a longer term.  He is 75 years old, in September of 2020 he will be 80.

Tim Jankovich, 57,  was Brown’s assistant coach at SMU and will step in and fill the head coaching position.  Jankovich has had experience at the helm of the Mustangs squad at the beginning of the 2015 – 2016 season when Brown was suspended for the first nine games of the season for violation of NCAA rules.

Brown’s time at SMU wasn’t without controversy.  Last season the NCAA banned SMU from post-season play for multiple violations including academic fraud and unethical behavior.  Subsequently the team lost nine scholarships over the next three years.  The Mustang’s former McDonald’s All-American Keith Frazier left the team mid-season for personal reasons, but it was speculated he left due to outside pressures as he was in the spotlight during the academic fraud investigation the previous year.

Brown’s record at SMU was 94-39.  Brown was known for having a crusty relationships with some of the players he’s coached like Stephon Marbury and Allen Iverson, but was also known for turning programs around.  That’s what he did at SMU.

Brown spent time coaching college, ABA, and NBA teams over the course of his career.  He was the head coach of seven different teams in the NBA from 1988 – 2010 before he returned to coaching college hoops at SMU in 2012.  2004 was a big year for Brown, he won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons and was the head coach of the men’s Olympic team that won the bronze medal in Athens.

He has over 45 year of experience as a coach, so it would be nice for him to see what retirement is all about, but I’m guessing that’s not in the cards.  It will be interesting to see where Brown ends up next year.