From Mullens to Milan, this Herd legend has always been a winner. Now he faces his greatest challenge as the coach of the New York Knicks.
Interview by Keith Morehouse
HQ 71 | AUTUMN 2010
The Memorial Field House was the place to be in Huntington, W.Va., in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It became a social event and a sporting event to head to the Field House and watch the fast-breaking Thundering Herd. The 1971-72 team in particular captured the hearts of Herd fans. Marshall, led by Russell Lee and Mike D’Antoni, rose to as high as No. 8 in the national polls. The two helped stage one of the most memorable wins in Field House history by beating then seventh-ranked St. John’s 110-107.
D’Antoni’s play was so captivating that William Reed of Sports Illustrated wrote this of D’Antoni in 1972: “Consider baby-faced Mike D’Antoni, the 6-foot-3-inch Italian hillbilly with the 37-inch arms and an ‘A’ academic standing in premed. He is so clever with the ball that he seemingly can wink at a cheerleader at the same time he is whipping a pass to someone wide open under the hoop.”
D’Antoni was drafted out of Marshall by the Kansas City Kings in the second round of the 1973 NBA draft, but he really established his reputation as a player and coach in Italy. D’Antoni, a duel resident of both the United States and Italy, helped his team to five Italian League titles and won two championships as a coach. In 2008, D’Antoni was named one of the 50 Most Influential Personalities in European Club Basketball history.
D’Antoni’s coaching career brought him back to the U.S. in 1998. He became head coach of the Phoenix Suns in 2003 and would become the third-winningest coach in Suns history. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2004-05. In 2008, D’Antoni was hired to coach the New York Knicks.
D’Antoni, a Marshall Hall of Famer, expressed interest in returning to his alma mater to coach at Marshall on at least two occasions; however, for whatever reasons, the school didn’t show a great deal of interest back to D’Antoni. His jersey number, also worn by his older brother Danny, has been retired. Current Marshall forward Dago Pena will continue to wear the jersey until his career is over in Huntington, but then it’s up to the rafters for No. 10.
Certainly things have worked out for the best for Mike D’Antoni. We talked with the pride of Mullens, W.Va., and asked him about his famous family, life and times at Marshall and what it’s like on the big stage of the NBA.
What were your fondest and most vivid memories of growing up in Mullens, W.Va.?
Some of my best memories were of playing basketball on the town playgrounds against some really good players. I was lucky to have the closeness of my family and the community.
Any pressure playing for coaching legends like your dad and Coach Don Nuckols?
I didn’t play for my dad. Coach Nuckols was just beginning his career and coached my fifth-, sixth-, ninth- and 12th-grade teams. Both men help lay a foundation my life and for my basketball philosophies.
You were highly recruited out of high school. You were also a huge fan of WVU. Why did you choose the Herd over the Mountaineers?
When WVU didn’t recruit my brother Danny, it upset me. I spent the next four years going to Marshall to watch him play and my loyalties shifted to the Thundering Herd. Also, Marshall was desirable to me because it was close to home. I was also fortunate to have extended family like the Hagleys and Vanstons to look after me.
How much influence did your older brother Danny have on you?
Having followed Danny’s career at Marshall, hanging out with him was definitely the key factor in my decision to attend Marshall. He never told me to go to Marshall, but knowing that he was there made the decision easy for me.
Who beat whom most in one-on-one?
I don’t think I ever beat Danny one-on-one.
What were some of your best memories of playing at Marshall?
I can still feel the emotions and energy of the Memorial Field House. Every game was exciting, but the Memorial Tournament during my junior year was the best. That was the year we jumped on the national scene. I had four great years. I hated to leave Marshall, and Huntington was a great town. The whole experience was definitely positive. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
After playing in the NBA, what influenced you to move to Italy for the remainder of your pro career?
I set a goal of getting to the NBA. I should have set a goal of staying in the league. But after four years in the NBA and heading nowhere fast, I decided that I wanted to continue to play. After a brief visit to Italy, I signed a two-year contract – which turned into 21 great years. I was really lucky to have found a great organization in such a fantastic city as Milan. The people I met there became my family.
Would you clear up something for us? Weren’t you interested in the Marshall job two separate times?
At least two times.
Frustrated that you didn’t get a viable opportunity?
I was more befuddled than anything.
Any chance you’d consider the Herd one more time after your pro coaching career is over?
You never say never. Marshall is a great place to be.
Times were pretty good for you in Phoenix, but a little more of a struggle in New York. How did you improve your team this summer?
I’m excited about the team we have put together in New York. We have some very good young players and should be better than last year. The challenge is exciting for me.
Your teams are known for playing fast. As a coach, what do you see as the advantage of this style?
I played very fast. I wanted to apply pressure, get up and down the court and take advantage of the defense. That started mostly at Marshall. Back then we had Russell Lee, at 6′ 5″, playing center, and Randy Noll, at 6′ 10″, shooting from way out. We were a team that was impossible to guard. Those years were fun and the most exciting time of my life.
What did you think of LeBron James’s free agent tour?
It’s crazy. You have to respect his decision, but it could’ve been handled differently.
In your opinion, was it good or bad for the game?
It did not hurt the game. This year’s free agency generated a lot of interest, which is always good for basketball. It did hurt the images of some of the players, though.
We hear your father, who is in his 90s, is the best corn hole player in the family. Is this true?
He is just a notch under me but is clearly better than anyone else in the family.
Do you ever get burned out by coaching?
I love what I’m doing. You get to do it 80 times a year during the season, plus playoffs, so maybe 100 times a year. That’s 100 times a year standing there with butterflies and wanting to throw up. Sometimes it’s unbelievably great, but sometimes you want to crawl in a hole and hide.
Finally, if you had five picks for an all-time NBA team, who would they be?
In no order – Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Jerry West.
