Vipers' Walsh in holding pattern

McALLEN - Brian Walsh was named the Rio Grande Valley Vipers' acting head coach on March 26 after Bob Hoffman resigned as coach of the expansion NBA Development League team. Six weeks later, Walsh's status has not changed.

And while ownership says Walsh is their top candidate to be the permanent head coach, the Vipers have been asked by the NBA to interview other unidentified candidates. Most if not all of the potential interviewees are believed to be former NBA players.

"The NBA gave us a list of five or six guys that they wanted us to talk to," Vipers co-owner Rene Borrego said. "We've got a few interviews scheduled. Coach Walsh is still a viable candidate. We're an NBA Development League franchise and we have to take some direction from the NBA itself."

While it's unclear exactly who will be interviewed, a source with the Vipers said the résumé of former NBA forward Cliff Levingston, who won two NBA championship rings with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, came across the organization's desk. It is unknown whether Levingston will be among those interviewed.

Walsh, who said he recently turned down an opportunity to be interviewed by the D-League's Colorado 14ers, is putting his faith and trust in the Vipers' owners to make him the team's coach after he served as Hoffman's assistant last year. As acting head coach for the team's final four games Walsh guided the Vipers to a 4-0 finish.

Borrego said the Vipers, who have not begun interviewing candidates yet, will have a coach in place by "the first part of June." That would mean Walsh will have been in limbo for over two months before finding out if he's going to be the Vipers' head coach.

As he waits, Walsh has been scouting players and trying to get last year's Vipers placed on NBA summer league squads.

"All you have to do is look at how successful (former NBA players) have been in this league," Walsh said. "An NBA name won't do it. I was hoping that it will be done before the NBA pre-draft camp in Orlando on May 27. There's no guarantee of that. I wouldn't want to have to go and talk to people and convince them. Hopefully it'll be done before that."

Todd Mavreles covers the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.