Lakers expect to hear in few days - NCAA

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has been offered the Los
Angeles Lakers' head coaching job, ESPN's Jim Gray reported Thursday
evening.

According to Gray, the Lakers expect to hear from Krzyzewski in the next
few days and hope to have their coaching search wrapped up by next week.
There are no firm details yet on the offer, described as multiyear and
multimillion. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak met with Krzyzewski
in North Carolina, Gray reported.

The sudden developments with Krzyzewski may have additional ramifications
for the Lakers. ESPN's Jay Bilas reports that Lakers free agent guard Kobe
Bryant has made it clear to the team that he wants Krzyzewski to be his
next coach.

Earlier Thursday, The Associated Press reported that the Lakers were in
"serious discussions" with Krzyzewski about their coaching position.

Krzyzewski, a Hall of Fame coach, has led the Blue Devils to three national
championships in almost a quarter-century at the school. He informed school
officials that the Lakers had contacted him about the job, Duke athletic
director Joe Alleva said Thursday.

Krzyzewski was not available for comment, the school said.

Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed the team spoke with Krzyzewski.

"They talked about our coaching vacancy," Black said. "Beyond that, we are
not going to comment further or answer any questions."

Black said the team has not made a decision, is considering several
candidates and won't comment further until the appropriate time.

Alleva said he didn't know if the Krzyzewski and the Lakers were close
to a deal.

"I haven't been privy to their conversations," he said. "But obviously,
they are a great franchise."

Duke spokesman Jon Jackson said Krzyzewski was in Durham earlier Thursday.
The Lakers declined to say where the discussions were held.

An attempt to reach Krzyzewski by phone was unsuccessful.

Duke president Richard Brodhead told AP he and Alleva had dinner with
Krzyzewski on Tuesday, after Brodhead became aware that the coach had
talked with the Lakers.

"If he has the offer, he's going to have a big decision before him,"
said Brodhead, who officially took office as Duke's president Thursday,
succeeding Nan Keohane.

Brodhead said he and Alleva urged Krzyzewski to finish his career at the
school. The coach has a contract for like as Duke' coach.

"He means more to this place than the record of his victories, impressive
though that is," Brodhead said. "He's a real teacher. He teaches character
as well as basketball."

Krzyzewski has compiled a 621-179 record in 24 seasons at Duke, leading
the Blue Devils to NCAA championships in 1991, 1992 and 2001. Under
Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils have 10 Final Four appearances, eight
Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships and 10 conference
regular-season titles.

His Duke teams have been ranked No. 1 in 12 different seasons, including
each of the last seven years.

The Lakers announced June 18 -- three days after losing to the Detroit
Pistons in the NBA Finals -- that Phil Jackson wouldn't return as coach
next season. Jackson, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract with
the Lakers in June 1999, guided them to championships in his first three
seasons.

Former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich has been considered the front-runner
to succeed Jackson. He met with team owner Jerry Buss and Kupchak last week.
The Lakers didn't comment on Tomjanovich's candidacy when his name first
surfaced last week.

Former Lakers coach Pat Riley, an executive with the Miami Heat, also met
with Buss and Kupchak, but issued a statement saying he wasn't a candidate.

Among others mentioned have been Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons, members of
Jackson's staff. Kupchak said he planned on interviewing more than one
person and less than 10 for the job and hoped to have a coach in place
as soon as possible.

Last month, Pistons coach Larry Brown became the first coach to win titles
in both the NBA and NCAA. But Brown is the exception to the general trend
of college coaches struggling in the NBA.

Rick Pitino went from two straight appearances in the national title game
with Kentucky to the Boston Celtics, before quitting in 2001 and later
returning to the college ranks with Louisville.

In 1992, Jerry Tarkanian, whose UNLV team won a national title in 1990,
lasted just 20 games before being fired by the San Antonio Spurs with a
9-11 record.

More recently, former college coaches Lon Kruger, John Calipari and Leonard
Hamilton have struggled during short tenures with the Atlanta Hawks, New
Jersey Nets and Washington Wizards, respectively.

"If he [Krzyzewski] decides that he's had a great ride at Duke, but
something else calls out to him now, we'd have to understand that,"
Brodhead said. "In the meantime, you can be sure we'll do all we can
to persuade him that Duke and the college game are the right place
for him."

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