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Skinner hasn't talked to Celtics

Print | Comments () Posted by Julian Benbow, Globe Staff July 11, 2010 04:29 PM

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Asked about a report that said he and the Celtics held preliminary discussions about the coaching vacancy left by Tom Thibodeau, former Boston College head coach Al Skinner said he hasn't talked to with the defending Eastern Conference champions.

"I haven't talked to them," Skinner said. "I wouldn't mind talking to them. But I haven't talked to them."

Skinner, who in 13 seasons at the Heights became the most successful basketball coach in Boston College history, was let go by the Eagles after a 15-16 campaign this past season. Twice during the Celtics' postseason run, Skinner was invited to the Celtics' training facility in Waltham by head coach Doc Rivers to observe practice.

Despite his success at the college level (he amassed 385 wins in 22 seasons as head coach at both BC and Rhode Island), Skinner's background is at the pro level. Taken out of UMass by the Celtics in the ninth round of the 1974 draft, he played six years in the ABA and NBA for the Nets, Pistons and 76ers.