UO’s Kent: ‘This is my basketball program’

Coach says it was his decision to add Dunlap to UO staff

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jun 2, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Oregon basketball coach Ernie Kent says he hired Mike Dunlap as an assistant because “I wanted to do something different.”

LISA BLUMENFELD / GETTY IMAGES

EUGENE —The weather is too inviting to do an interview indoors, so Ernie Kent escorts a visitor outside of the Casanova Center and parks down on a bench.

“Great day, huh?” he asks, and if the man has a worry in the world, he hides it well.

But all is not well with the University of Oregon men’s basketball team, not after a dismal 2008-09 season when the Ducks finished 8-23 and were last in the Pac-10 with a 2-16 record.

It was Oregon’s worst season since Don Monson’s last squad went 6-21 overall and 2-16 in conference in 1991-92. With five freshmen drawing significant playing time, the Ducks were overmatched and outplayed most of the time last winter.

As a result, there was plenty of heat on Kent, who has twice taken Oregon to the Elite Eight in his 12 seasons but, since 2004-05, is 35-55 in Pac-10 contests.

Kent’s rollover deal means five years remain on his contract, but a $1 million buyout would seem to put his future in peril if he doesn’t get things turned around fast.

Soon after the season, Oregon made a major move, hiring Mike Dunlap as associate head coach. Dunlap, an assistant at Arizona last season, is highly regarded, with experience as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets and head coach at Division II Metro State in Denver.

Kent let go longtime assistant Mark Hudson to make room for Dunlap, who coached Metro State to national titles in 2000 and ‘02. Kent also kept busy during the Final Four as second vice president of the executive board of the National Association of Basketball Coaches — he’s scheduled to be president in two years.

Questions? For every one the Portland Tribune proffered, Kent answered.

Tribune: What has dominated your time since the end of the season?

Kent: Finding a new coach was a good portion of it. Closing out the recruiting period with Jamil Wilson and Malcolm Armstead. The Final Four is a working one for those of us on the board of directors, and we had another meeting. And then, organizing the individual workouts and getting Mike (Dunlap) transferred over to what we do in terms of terminology.

Tribune: Tell us about adding Mike Dunlap. Was this really your idea?

Kent: Contrary to what I’ve heard, read … no one has ever told me, ‘You have to do this to keep your job.’ That was never discussed.

I wanted to change our program. I wanted to do something different. There’s so much more out there that I don’t know, and I have one of the best coaches in the country on my staff now. He brings so much to the table. It’s about strengthening our program, and we have an opportunity to do it. It was not an easy decision to make, but it was my call.

Tribune: What was your relationship with Mike in the past?

Kent: Very similar to what it was with (UO assistant) Kenny Payne when I hired him. I’d not even met Kenny Payne. I hired Mike on some recommendations from what I consider some of the best basketball minds out there. He was perfect for what I was looking for.

I know Mike because he had so much success at the Division II level and his name has been around for a while. He was on George Raveling’s staff at SC. I first came in contact with him personally with USA Basketball in 2004. I was on the board of directors, and we select the national teams and bring in court coaches to coach as we evaluate the talent and pick the team. He was one of our court coaches for scrimmage sessions. It was a neat experience to see him work, and he was brought into a meeting with our committee. We listened to what he said about the players. We went out to dinner and talked basketball. I was impressed, and I remembered.

Tribune: What will he bring?

Kent: He reminds me so much of (former UO assistants) Greg Graham and Fred Litzenberger. They are basketball minds. If you are away, they could run your program in a way you would run it.

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