Larry Brown Won't Be Coaching At East Hampton High School

EAST HAMPTON, NY — East Hampton High School athletes won't be sharing the court with Hall of Fame basketball coach Larry Brown, after all.

Brown, 76, had expressed interest in the position in September.

But according to Newsday, Brown has opted not to accept the coaching post at East Hampton High.

It was never a done deal: Initially, according to espn.com, Brown, the famed basketball coach who left Southern Methodist University after resigning in July, had some interest in setting his sights on East Hampton High School.

According to the report, Brown, who has a summer home in East Hampton, heard the district had a sudden opening after the newly hired coach — and considered the idea.

But from the outset, East Hampton Athletic Director Joe Vasile-Cozzo said that Brown, the only basketball coach to have won both an NBA and NCAA title, had shown interest in the boys varsity coaching post but was still making a decision.

"There's been no change from where we're at," Vasile-Cozzo told Patch in September. "He is certainly interested, but he needs a couple of weeks to see where he is, for the commitments he's made. He doesn't know what level, or how much of a time commitment he can do. He would like to do it all the way, and he doesn't want to disappoint anyone."

Vasile-Cozzo had said, however, that should Brown have taken the position, he would have been thrilled. "He's a legend, he's a gentleman, he's a teacher, and he loves kids. It would be a great situation for our kids, the coaching staff and our community."

The coach who resigned, Jesse Shapiro, left because he had difficulty finding an additional position on the East End and it was difficult to survive on a basketball salary, Vasile-Cozzo said.

Brown shared his thoughts about the possibility with the Kansas City Star in September: "There’s a high school in East Hampton (N.Y.) where I’m currently staying. I’m going to speak to the AD there,” he said. “If I do that, I can’t do it halfway. They told me I can still speak and go to colleges, but I don’t want to cheat the kids. So if I’m going to do it, I’ll do it 100 percent."

Patch file photo.