National Basketball Association

Bruce Pearl to meet with D-League team

Published Aug. 2, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Former University of Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl will meet The Texas Legends NBA D-League team's owner Donnie Nelson on Wednesday to discuss a head coaching opportunity, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Legends owner Donnie Nelson, also president of basketball operations with the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise, said he has had "some real constructive dialog" with Pearl about the Legends coaching gig.

"There's interest on both sides," Nelson told The Morning News. "[Wednesday's visit] is an opportunity for him to see our operation.

"There's certainly no commitment. But we'd like to put our North Texas best foot forward, and hopefully he likes what he sees."

The Legends do not currently have a head coach.

It is the second time an NBA D-League team has approached Pearl, coming after the Maine Red Claws showed interest in signing the former Tennessee coach in May.

Pearl, 51, had a successful run coaching the Volunteers for the past six years, going to the NCAA Tournament every year and reaching the Elite Eight in 2010.

But his run in Knoxville ended in nightmarish fashion after he lied to NCAA investigators during an inquiry into recruiting violations. He was suspended by the Southeastern Conference for the first eight league games in 2011, and Tennessee fired him shortly after a blowout loss to Michigan in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

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