 |
 |
|
| | Tuesday, July 11 Brown sticks with 76ers | |||||
| Associated Press PHILADELPHIA -- Larry Brown, who once dreamed of coaching at North Carolina, is staying with the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown announced his decision Monday after meeting with North Carolina officials over the weekend to discuss the coaching vacancy at his alma mater. "After discussions with my family, and considering how much I care about Philadelphia, the management and our fans, I have decided to continue my efforts and fulfill my dream of helping to bring a championship to Philadelphia," Brown said. "Once again, I would like to thank coach Dean Smith for all he has done for me in the past, and I intend to remain as closely allied to the university as I have been." Brown, who joined the 76ers in 1997 after four seasons with the Indiana Pacers, signed a three-year extension in March. He hasn't coached in college since leading Kansas to the NCAA championship in 1988. It was believed Brown's contentious relationship with Sixers star Allen Iverson would drive him out of Philadelphia. The two have clashed since Brown joined the Sixers, and Iverson reportedly was fined nearly 75 times last season for being late to practice. But Iverson insists he and Brown can coexist. "It's something I have to take up by myself," Iverson said from Virginia. "I've said for a long time, I can play under Coach Brown. I don't have a problem with Coach." Iverson said it "would be very, very difficult" for him to play under Brown next season, but he's willing to do it. Brown began his coaching career with the ABA's Carolina Cougars in 1972, and has coached Denver, New Jersey, San Antonio and the Los Angeles Clippers. In addition to Kansas, he coached UCLA. He is 732-586 as an NBA coach, 229-107 as an ABA coach and 177-61 in college. Brown led the 76ers to the Eastern Conference semifinals the last two seasons after a seven-year absence. The coaching position at North Carolina became available when Bill Guthridge retired June 30. After Kansas coach Roy Williams turned down the job last week, Smith contacted Sixers president Pat Croce for permission to speak with Brown, who has five years remaining on a contract worth more than $30 million. In granting Smith permission to speak to Brown, Croce said he was "a dream-maker, not a dream-breaker." Brown said in the past he would jump at an opportunity to return to North Carolina. He averaged 11.8 points as a guard at North Carolina from 1960-63, and was the first Tarheels player to compete in the Olympics in 1964. Brown was an assistant under Smith before playing in the ABA. "Years ago, when I was a young coach, my dream was to go back to my alma mater and be a coach there," Brown said last season. "I would do anything coach Smith asked me to do, but I want to retire here. Three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, I wouldn't have blinked. Everything I want is here." Brown's decision to remain with the Sixers could help him become the successor to Houston's Rudy Tomjanovich as the Olympic coach in 2004. Brown is an assistant to Tomjanovich with the U.S. team this summer. In addition to Brown, Milwaukee coach George Karl withdrew his name from consideration for the North Carolina job Monday, leaving Notre Dame's Matt Doherty and Middle Tennessee State's Randy Wiel in contention. | ALSO SEE Source: North Carolina to hire Notre Dame's Doherty Forde: Keep it in the family Karl takes himself out of running for UNC job Williams says no to UNC, stays at Kansas Thanks, but ... Fogler withdraws name from UNC race Doherty calls meeting with UNC 'productive' AUDIO/VIDEO   Pat Croce reads a statement from Sixers coach Larry Brownwav: 282 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||