Brown set to join Bobcats

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Larry Brown has reached an agreement to return to the NBA with his ninth team, as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Monday.

Brown was expected to sign a contract today. The Bobcats have called an afternoon news conference.

It will be the 67-year-old Hall of Famer’s first job since a messy exit from the New York Knicks in 2006. Brown will replace Sam Vincent, fired on Saturday after going 32-50 in his one season.

Brown’s agent, Joe Glass, refused to confirm or deny the hiring.

Brown won the NBA championship with Detroit in 2004 and the NCAA title with Kansas in 1988. He resigned last week as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers amid indications he wanted to return to coaching.

The move means Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan has turned to a fellow former North Carolina Tar Heel to try to get the fourth-year Bobcats into the playoffs for the first time.

Brown, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, is one of five NBA coaches with at least 1,000 victories.