Mike Dunlap Announced as New Head Coach at LMU
By Josh Horton
December 21, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats head coach Mike Dunlap smiles during the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bobcats 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Loyola Marymount has hired Mike Dunlap as its new head coach.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 12, 2014
Directly after it was announced that former LMU head coach Max Good’s contract would not be renewed, rumors and speculation around former Charlotte Bobcat head coach Mike Dunlap taking the job started swirling. Today, those rumors came into fruition as the University confirmed that Dunlap will take over as head coach.
The hire comes just one day – less than 24 hours – after coach Good was informed he will not return as head coach of the Lions.
Dunlap has direct ties to LMU, as he is a graduate of the University. He was an assistant on the Lions coaching staff from 1980-1985. He has served as an assistant coach at Arizona, Oregon and St. Johns. While working with the Red Storm in 2012, Dunlap served as the teams interim head coach after current head coach Steve Lavin was recovering from prostate cancer surgery.
This is a big time hire by the LMU athletic department, as Dunlap has over 30 years of coaching experience, including some coaching at esteemed college basketball programs as well as coaching in the NBA.
Loyola Marymount was plagued with injuries over the last two seasons, but poor performance was what ultimately led to Good’s canning. Based on that, Dunlap’s expectations as head coach are clear. He needs to win and win immediately.
Update 1:47 p.m.:
Word on street is El Camino coach Ray Johnson may end up on Mike Dunlap's staff at LMU. That would make them front-runner for Devin Watson.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) March 12, 2014
This is a big development in this whole ordeal on the recruiting front. Ray Johnson coaches at El Camino High School in the San Diego area, and is the all-time winningest high school basketball coach in that section. He would likely replace former assistant coach Myke Scholl, who announced he would not return to the program after Good was not retained.
Devin Watson is a consensus three-star prospect from the San Diego area. He was formerly committed to Oregon State and would be a big pickup for the Lions.