Danny Manning is “excited” to be the new head coach at the University of Tulsa. If his career arc turns out to be anything like his predecessors, he has every reason to be.
The school that boasts former coaches like Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith and Bill Self might have added their next great coach in Danny Manning, the former Kansas assistant under Self. Of course, the Tulsa program can only hope he sticks around longer than some of those names. Yet such is the life of a mid-major, and Tulsa can be among the best. Manning seems to agree.
“I’m excited and looking forward to being the head basketball coach at the University of Tulsa,” Manning said in a statement. “I want to thank President Upham, (athletic director) Ross (Parmley) and the search committee for allowing me this tremendous opportunity to coach at a university with a fine basketball tradition.
“I’d also like to thank Coach (Bill) Self for giving me the chance to be a part of his staff for the past nine years. I have learned a tremendous amount about the game and the profession from him and all of the members of his staff.”
While Self and the Kansas program have certainly provided a great environment of success for Manning to learn, the school has also benefitted from his talents and experience as a player. His 16 year NBA career speaks for itself and he’s been lauded for his work with numerous NBA bigs the last few years at KU, from the Morris Twins to Cole Aldrich and Julian Wright.
While it’s not a guarantee to work out, Tulsa has to be ecstatic to have found their new head coach in Manning. It sounds like the feeling is mutual.