LMU and Mike Dunlap part ways

After six seasons on the job at his alma mater, Loyola Marymount announced Sunday night that head coach Mike Dunlap would be stepping down effective immediately. The athletic department and coach agreed mutually to part ways.

Dunlap graduated from LMU in 1980 and became an assistant for the Lions. From there his career took him around the collegiate and professional ranks as both an assistant and head coach. Prior to rejoining the Lions in 2014 Dunlap was an NBA head coach for the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Lions went 80–107 under Dunlap and 35–69 in West Coast Conference play. A 4–14 WCC record in his first year was followed by a 6–12 showing the next and an 8–10 record in season three. That landed Dunlap a contract extension through the 2021 season. We now know he won’t be completing the final year of his contract.

Dunlap’s best season was the 2018–19 campaign in which the Lions went 22–12 overall but managed just an 8–8 showing in conference.

This year LMU bowed out of the conference tournament in the second round as the eight seed with an 11–21 (4–12) record.

Under Dunlap the Lions never managed to build much momentum or any real identity. His rosters were constructed largely with junior college transfers — notably, that was not the case this season, but the end result was no different.

The Lions played a slow-tempo style under Dunlap, which became even more intense over the past two seasons. Per KenPom, the Lions ranked in the bottom-five nationally in 2019 and 2020 in adjusted tempo. Saint Mary’s has long played like that, but the Gaels do so in an aesthetically appealing and objectively effective way. LMU, for whatever reason, never managed to achieve either.

It will be interesting to see what sort of coach the Lions bring in to replace Dunlap. Prior to this season, LMU underwent a massive rebrand. My guess is they attempt to do the same with their style of play going forward.

Related posts:

Why do people devalue? Why do people demean? Is it so that they are damaged well inside that they want other people to be as miserable as they are? Goodness!