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Larry Brown takes over at SMU

Larry Brown, shown in a November 2008 file photo when he was the coach the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA, on Monday was introduced as the men's head basketball coach at Southern Methodist. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo)
Larry Brown, shown in a November 2008 file photo when he was the coach the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA, on Monday was introduced as the men's head basketball coach at Southern Methodist. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) | License Photo

DALLAS, April 23 (UPI) -- Larry Brown, who has coached 13 basketball teams in a Hall of Fame career, was introduced Monday as the men's basketball coach at Southern Methodist.

Brown, 71, said he wants to get back to teaching the game of basketball.

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"I just think being a college coach, you're really a teacher and that's something that I love to do," Brown said. "I don't love games, but I love practice. I'm talking about practice ... I love practice."

SMU is Brown's third college stop. He guided UCLA to a 42-17 record and an NCAA Final Four appearance, since vacated, in 1979-81 and coached at Kansas from 1983-88 building a 135-44 record, advancing to the Final Four twice and winning the NCAA Tournament in 1988.

At SMU, for one season he'll be coaching in Conference USA, which includes Tulsa. Danny Manning, the star on the 1988 Kansas title team, will have his first head coaching position next season at Tulsa. SMU is to join the Big East in 2013.

Brown also coached 31 seasons in the ABA and NBA, most recently at Charlotte. His 2003-04 Detroit team won the NBA championship. His professional coaching record is 1,098-904. The win total is the sixth-highest in NBA history.

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He's replacing Matt Doherty at SMU. Doherty coached the Mustangs for six seasons, going 80-109. SMU was 13-19 last season, including 4-12 in Conference USA.

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