Boston Celtics Assistant Walter McCarty Open to Holy Cross Head Coaching Position

Anyone who grew up in New England in the 1990s remembers former Boston Celtics forward Walter McCarty and probably has fond memories of the over-the-top way color analyst Tommy Heinsohn would proclaim is irrational love for the way No. 0 played the game. Now an assistant with the Celtics, McCarty told reporters he would be open to coaching Heinsohn's alma mater, the Holy Cross Crusaders.

From the Worcester Telegram & Gazette's Bill Doyle:

Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty has been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace the fired Milan Brown as Holy Cross men's basketball coach, and while the college hasn't contacted him yet, he wouldn't mind if it did.

"I would love it," McCarty said before the Celtics played the Sixers Monday night at the Garden, "but I don't want to take away from what I do here. I don't want it to look like I'm chasing after a job because I'm not. But if they had interest in me, I would definitely have interest in them."

McCarty's post-playing career has seen him on the bench with Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals and the pre-Frank Vogel Indiana Pacers. The former Kentucky forward played in the NBA for 10 years with the New York Knicks, Celtics, and Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers.

McCarty would bring with him the "wow-factor" that comes with being a former NBA player, even if his coaching resume won't floor any recruits. This could be a good route for the Crusaders to go with this particular hire because McCarty carries some local cache and has experience with both NBA players and high-level collegiate athletes.

Doyle followed up this piece with a second article detailing other names Holy Cross is rumored to be interested in. This list includes former Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson, Hofstra assistant Mo Cassera, Robert Morris' Andy Toole, former Boston College coach Al Skinner, and a bevy of former assistant coaches with ties to the area.