PHOENIX (AP) -Phoenix Suns assistant coach Mark Iavaroni said Saturday that he has had an informal meeting with Memphis owner Michael Heisley about the Grizzlies’ vacant head coaching position.
“I had a nice dinner conversation with Michael Heisley and got to know him better and really liked what I heard,” Iavaroni said. “We struck a very good chord.”
Iavaroni, mentioned for head coaching jobs the last few seasons, said he hasn’t had contact with any other teams and has no formal interview scheduled with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies also have asked for and received permission to speak with the Suns vice president of basketball operations David Griffin about a front-office job. Memphis president and general manager Jerry West has announced he is leaving once his contract ends on June 30.
Former New York Knicks coach Larry Brown and the University of Florida’s Billy Donovan also met with Heisley about the vacancy, according to a report by The Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis.
Iavaroni said he believes he is better prepared than ever to become a head coach.
“I think I’m very, very capable,” he said. “I’ve had great experience and great teachers and great comrades throughout all our battles here and other places, and I think I’m over-ready.”
Iavaroni said he plans to see if there is interest in him from any other NBA teams seeking a new coach.
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