“I’m ready to start meeting people and networking and I’m available if they’re interested in taking a chance on me," Laettner said.
The 13-year NBA veteran has spent most of his time in the six years since he retired working with Blue Devil Ventures, as well as fishing and "driving his kids to soccer practice." Blue Devil Ventures has fallen on hard times, though, defaulting on loans to investors (one of whom is San Diego Chargers' linebacker Shawn Merriman).
It's only natural, then, for Laettner to want to return to the place he had the most success in life: the hardwood.
“The ultimate goal is to get a big time head college coaching job.... If nothing happens in the college ranks, I’ve got to go to the NBA pre-draft camp this year in Chicago and let the people in the NBA know that I’m ready to be an assistant coach.”
Laettner, known for controversial moments like the foot stomp on Aminu Timberlake, will have to overcome an image to get a job in coaching.
“I am a little worried about (my image) but I’m hoping that they’ll realize that you can’t go off image and perception all the time,” Laettner said. “You’ve got to go by one-to-one interaction with people.”
It will be interesting to see where Laettner could end up coaching. Perhaps with former Dukie Mike Brey, head coach of Notre Dame and AP National Coach of the Year? Or maybe back in Durham, if the rumors of Steve Wojciechowski going to Dayton prove true, and there turns out to be room on the bench?
UPDATE: Wojciechowski has pulled his name from consideration in the Dayton coaching search.
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