REPORT: Charlotte Bobcats hire former Nuggets, Metro State coach

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to the Charlotte Observer, former Metro State head coach and Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap will be named the new head coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.

Dunlap was acting as head coach at St. John’s University while current head coach Steve Lavin continues to battle prostate cancer.

Credited with turning Metro State into a national power at the NCAA’s Division II level, Dunlap was inducted into the Roadrunners’ hall of fame last July. He coach at the Denver school from 1997-2006 and put up a record of 248 wins and 50 losses. That mark includes national championship victories in 2000 and 2002. Dunlap’s Roadrunners appeared in the NCAA tournament in all of his nine seasons as head coach.

George Karl then brought Dunlap on as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets. He was a member of that staff from 2006-2008 until he took a position as an associate head coach at the University of Oregon.

The Bobcats, who are owned by former NBA star Michael Jordan, were also considering former Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan, Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Los Angeles Lakers assistant Quinn Synder for their head coaching vacancy, according to various media outlets.

There were rumors that Colorado State was considering Dunlap for its head coach opening when Tim Miles left for the University of Nebraska in late March. CSU went with former Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy instead.