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Frank is a New Jersey native, so the Rutgers' job is a reasonable one for him to consider |
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After the recent events and news coming out of the Rutgers (NJ) men's basketball program — the former coach, Mike Rice, was found to use physical and verbal abuse to punish and scold his players — the never-ending NCAA basketball coaching wheel has found itself churning yet again, spurting out possible replacements for Rice, whom the university fired shortly after ESPN aired the damning video.
As a Teaneck, N.J. native, it was only a matter of time until Lawrence Frank, the current coach of the 25-51 Detroit Pistons, was brought up into discussion as a potential candidate for the job.
It makes sense at why Frank would at least consider taking the Rutgers job as he is from the northern New Jersey area, he coached the Nets (then based in northern New Jersey) for six years, and has been pretty unsuccessful in his one-plus seasons at the helm of Detroit, going 25-41 in 2011-12's lockout-truncated campaign in addition to his rough 2012-13 season as well.
However, in response to the here-and-there rumors suggesting that he was thinking about heading back down to the college ranks, where his coaching career began, Frank has flat out denied being linked to the opening and said that he is "very happy as the coach of the Pistons."
But with his ill wife, Susan, still living in New Jersey with his two sons– Frank recently left Detroit for six games to tend to his wife — there is no denying that if he is fired this summer from his current job with the Pistons, a move to work closer to home is a definite possibility. Frank would have to think hard about whether or not he wants to assume a program in the sort of turmoil that Rutgers' is in however.
From Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: "I'm the coach of the Pistons," Frank said. "I haven't heard from anyone.
"Like I told you, I'm very happy as the coach of the Pistons. I haven't been contacted by anyone and there's nothing more to say."
As we have seen plenty of times in the NBA and college ranks before, what a coach — or player — says on the record really does not have any bearing on what those coaches and players actually do.
Lawrence Frank can say whatever he wants about not having interest in moving closer to his wife and family in New Jersey, but it really seems like a good fit. We will keep an eye on this situation as it progresses throughout the season.
