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Brown’s most vocal supporter was June Jones, S.M.U.’s football coach, whose history with Brown goes back to the mid-1970s.

As a student living in Portland, Ore., Jones used to drive Ford Econoline vans for N.B.A. teams in town to play the Trail Blazers.

When the Denver Nuggets were in town and Brown was the coach, “Larry jumped right in the front seat,” Jones said.

Jones followed Brown’s career from there and reached out when he heard Brown might be interested in the S.M.U. opening.

“I knew if we were making the upgrade to the next level of basketball, how could you not be interested in a Hall of Fame coach?” Jones said. “I knew that he would get the job if he could get the interview.”

The hiring is paying dividends.

The Mustangs’ scoring is up more than 10 points per game.

Season-ticket sales are up 79 percent.

The university has committed $40 million to a renovation of its arena, Moody Coliseum, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2013, shortly after the team’s move to the Big East from Conference-USA.

“I realized when I got the job, this year would be an enormous hill to climb,” Brown said. “But I’m thrilled about our recruiting, the transfers we have.

“We’re way ahead of where we thought we’d be at this time.”

gostangs wrote:youd think if June as such a big fan he'd maybe pick up on the model. Hire three or four kick [deleted] young black recruiters and turn them lose. i know they aren't 65 like everyone else on his staff, but June should think about what actually makes this work long term.