Royal Ivey, assistant coach of the Brooklyn Nets, was interviewed on Sunday for an open head-coaching position in Texas, sources told ESPN. The interview was held at Zoom.
Ivy was a key player in the Longhorns’ final four of 2003 before joining the 10-year-old NBA career.
Prior to his tenure with Ivy Net, he was an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the New York Knicks.
Texas Tech coach Chris Baird is widely considered Longhorns’ top target for replacing Shaka Smart, who left last week to become Marquette coach. The Daisy Red Raiders lost to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Ivy has the support of some of Texas’ most notable basketball students, including Nets superstar Kevin Durant.
Accepted a head-coaching job at Smart Marquette on Friday, ending days of speculation about his future in Austin, Texas. Smart’s six-year term with Longhorns was a roller coaster to the final hill. He followed the Longhorns to the Big 12 Conference Tournament title – the only Banner Smart won six seasons there – seven days later with a shocking defeat to Abel Christian in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
ESPN staff writer Jeff Borzello contributed to this report.
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