NBA: Mike Dunlap named Charlotte Bobcats head coach - report

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports that St. John's University assistant head coach Mike Dunlap has been named head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise. According to Bonnell's sources, the 54-year-old Dunlap had been offered the job Monday night (Tuesday morning, PHL time) following interviews with owner Michael Jordan, as well as the team's president of basketball operations and general manager. The news comes after former Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan pulled out of the running for the vacant position last week. Reports had Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quin Snyder as the remaining candidates, and thus it was a surprise when Bonnell broke the news of Dunlap's hiring. Dunlap had been an assistant to Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl from 2006 to 2008 in his only other experience working in the professional league. Karl had spoken glowingly of him though and was quoted in his St. John's bio as saying "[Dunlap] absolutely elevates every player and team he comes into contact with....He will take you from good to great. Name any top-level elite coach in the game - the only difference between Mike and them is their address. There is no higher level of coaching ability than his." During the past season at St. John's, Dunlap was essentially the head coach, taking over in-game coaching and practice sessions, while head coach Steve Lavin underwent treatment for prostate cancer. Dunlap now takes over for Paul Silas, who amassed a 32-88 record in two NBA seasons, including an NBA-worst 7-59 win-loss record during the recent lockout shortened regular season. The Bobcats have the second overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NBA Draft. - AMD, GMA News