Learn about Coach Mike Dunlap, with over 40 years of coaching in the NBA and collegiate ranks.
Mike Dunlap is a professional basketball coach from Fairbanks, Alaska. He was a dual athlete as he played third baseman for the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks and played college basketball as a guard.
Coach Dunlap is a MSU and RMAC hall of famer who has over 40 years of coaching experience in the NBA and Colligate levels of basketball, including 2 national championships with Metro State University and 1 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.
In this Coach Profile, you’ll learn about Mike Dunlap and his extensive coaching career. For more coaching profiles and content, consider subscribing for free and never miss any new posts
Cal Lutheran (1989-1994)
Dunlap’s first head coach position was with the California Lutheran University’s men’s basketball team; the Kingsmen. He spent 4 seasons with the team and reached the NCAA Division III 3 times, along with finishing 1st place in their conference every year in the Athletic.
Dunlap finished his coaching tenure with the team with an overall 80-55 record and 35-7 conference record. He holds the 5th best coaching record in the team’s history.
Adelaide 36ers (1994-1996)
Coach Dunlap was the Head Coach of the Adelaide 36ers, a southern Australian basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). He led his team to the grand finals in 1994, followed up with semi-final appearances in 1995 and 1996.
He finished his 3-year tenure with a record of 59-36 and is notably credited with being an important part of Brett Maher’s early playing career with the team.
Metro State (1997-2006)
Returning to the United States, Dunlap became the head coach of Metro State University’s men’s basketball team, the Denver Roadrunners.
In 2000, he won the first national championship in team history, closing the season with a 33-4 record. 2 years later, the Roadrunners won their second championship and finished their season with a 29-6 record. One of the champions on that roster was Patrick Mutombo who is now a veteran coach in the NBA, currently with the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant.
Along with his national championships, he was named The National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the year in 2000 and 2002.
In the 2003-2004 season, the Roadrunners were undefeated with a 19-0 record in their conference but came up short in the final four. For the rest of Dunlap’s tenure, the team were a top 3 team in the East and made the NCAA tournament every season he was there.
His final season with the team was the 2005-2006 season, ending his Metro State tenure with 2 national championships, 2 Coach of the year awards, and an overall coaching record of 248-50, the best in the program’s history.
Denver Nuggets (2006-2008)
Remaining in the Denver area, Denver Nuggets hired Dunlap as an assistant coach under George Karl where he would remain until 2008. Some of the notable talent he coached were Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Allen Iverson Kenyon Martin, Steve Blake, and Nenê.
During his tenure, the Nuggets reached the playoffs but were eliminated by the Spurs and Lakers in the first rounds of the 2006 and 2007 playoffs respectfully.
Arizona State (2008-2009)
Joining first year head coach Russ Pennell on his coaching staff, he was the associate head coach for the Wildcats men’s basketball team for the Arizona State University. The Wildcats went 21-14 in the season and 9-9 in the Pac-10, the team eventually progressed to the sweet 16 bracket since 2005.
University of Oregon (2009-2010)
Dunlap then moved up north to Oregon, serving as the associate head coach for Ernie Kent for the Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team of the University of Oregon. The team finished 16–16 in the regular season and 7–11 in the Pac-10, they won the BTI Tip-Off tournament, but did not make the post-season, resulting in Ernie Kent being fired after the season.
St. John’s University (2010-2012)
Headed towards the East, Dunlap was named as an assistant coach under Steve Lavin for the Red Storm men’s basketball team at St John’s University in Queens, New York. On that same coaching staff was Rico Hines, a player skills coach, who’s currently an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.
In his first season, the team finished 21-12 in the regular season and 12-6 in the big east, making the NCAA tournament.
In the 2011-2012 season, which featured Future NBA 1st round pick, Maurice “Moe” Harkless, Dunlap temporarily took over as the Interim head coach, as Steve Lavin underwent cancer surgery and was on a modified schedule. The Red Storm finished 13-19 in the regular season.
Charlotte Bobcats (2012-2013)
In 2012, After finishing 7–59, the worst record in franchise and NBA history, the team fired Paul Silas. The Bobcats hired Mike Dunlap, who was coming of his St. John’s tenure. With his hiring, Dunlap became the first person to be a head coach of a NBL (Adelaide 36ers) and an NBA team.
Hoping for better success with their 3rd coach in 3 years, especially after having the worst season in NBA history, the team snapped a 23-game losing streak that they ended the previous season with against the Indiana Pacers. From late November to December 30, the team went on an another losing streak of 18 games which was snapped on December 31, against the Chicago Bulls.
Despite the ongoing losses, Kemba Walker had significantly improved his numbers in his second year in the NBA. Dunlap had praised Walker in the pre-season and wanted to put him in a position to succeed, by wanting to give him freedom and a similar playing style from Walker’s playing days in UConn under Coach Jim Calhoun. Walker would spend the next 6 seasons with the Bobcats, (later branded into the Hornets) under coaches Steve Clifford and James Borrego.
The Bobcats finished 21–61, Coach Dunlap became the first coach in the NBA to triple a team’s winnings from the previous season. Though, the 2011-2012 season had a lockout and only 66 games were played, Dunlap made progress.
He was fired after one season with the Bobcats, however he wasn’t surprised of his short tenure and mentioned there are some things he would change if he could do it again.
Loyola Marymount (2014-2020)
Returning to his Alma matter, the Loyola Marymount University where he graduated, played basketball in 1979-1980 and was an assistant coach for the school from 1980-1985. He was named the head coach of the Lions men’s basketball team in 2014.
In 2018, the team started 8-0, and 11-1, the best start to a season in team history. They also reached the post-season for the first time since 1990. They later on won the Jamaica Classic, defeating Georgia University.
After 7 seasons with the team, Dunlap finished with an overall coaching record of 81-108, the fifth-most all-time in program history. 3 players from those rosters are currently playing international basketball: James Batemon III, Gabe Levin, and Eli Scott.
Milwaukee Bucks (2020-2023)
In November 2020, Dunlap joined Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff in Milwaukee, his 3rd NBA stint. The Bucks had won the championship in 2021, resulting in Dunlap’s first NBA championship. Dunlap notably coached: 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All Stars Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, and Brook Lopez.
Colorado Mesa (2024-)
Since April 15, 2024, Coach Dunlap is the head coach of the Colorado Mesa Mavericks. His first season is still ongoing as of January 8, 2025.
Accolades & Achievements
2x National Champion with Metro State (2000, 2002).
4x regular season RMAC championship (1998, 2000, 2004, 2005).
6x RMAC tournament championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005).
5x NCAA regional championships (1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005).
Selected as the coach of the RMAC’s All-Century team in honor of the conference’s 100th anniversary. (2009).
Elected to the MSU Denver’s Hall of Fame (2011).
Elected to the RMAC Hall of Fame (2012).
Mike Dunlap is definitely a underrated coach, the most successful head coach at MSU with 2 national championships, the first basketball player from Alaska to finish their collegiate career at an NCAA Division I school, first person to be a NBL and NBA head coach, coaching some of the most talented basketball players in the NBA and later becoming a NBA champion, and being elected into two different hall of fames in MSU and RMAC.
Founder & Managing Editor of Behind the Coaching.