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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Marshall hired Los Angeles Lakers assistant Dan D'Antoni as its men's basketball coach Thursday.
The 66-year-old D'Antoni is scheduled to be introduced at a news conference on Friday. He replaces Tom Herrion, who resigned last month after an 11-22 season.
D'Antoni is the older brother of Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni. He spent the past two seasons on the Lakers' staff and has had stints as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks.
D'Antoni has no college coaching experience. He spent 30 years as coach at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C., before leaving in 2005. Among his accomplishments was founding the prestigious Beach Ball Classic tournament.
Mike D'Antoni said in a statement released by Marshall that his brother "has been invaluable in the development of players at the high school and professional level. If you have the desire, he will get everything out of you."
Dan D'Antoni played four seasons at Marshall, leading the Thundering Herd in scoring in 1968-69 at 17.5 points per game. After graduating in 1970, he became head coach of the freshman basketball team, where he coached his younger brother. Mike D'Antoni played at Marshall from 1970-73, leading the Thundering Herd to an NCAA tournament berth in 1972.
Marshall hasn't been to the NCAA tournament since 1987 and will likely be without redshirt freshman point guard Kareem Canty, who was granted his release from the team after Herrion left. Canty averaged 16 points and more than five assists per game.
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