Danny Manning and family are right where they want to be — in Lawrence.

“There’s nothing real complex about it. We like it. We like Lawrence. We like KU. We just feel very comfortable here,” said Manning, a 1988 KU graduate who Friday accepted a position as director of student-athlete development/team manager in the Kansas University men’s basketball program.

“To be part of the program again … it’s rewarding, exciting. It’s fulfilling,” said the 37-year-old Manning, who likely has concluded his 15-year NBA career. “The fieldhouse was the best venue I’ve ever played in. To come back and experience that again as part of the program should be a lot of fun.”

Manning will have no coaching duties, but will “mentor and counsel” KU players on a day-to-day basis out of the men’s basketball office. He will be on the court at practices and can be involved in drills as long as he is not teaching. The 6-foot-10 forward even can play in pick-up games.

Manning will have no responsibilities in recruiting, in accordance with NCAA rules, but he can speak with recruits and their parents when they make official visits. He can also counsel athletes in other KU sports.

“We are so excited Danny is going to be part of our basketball program,” KU coach Bill Self said. “There are very few people out there from this area who played in two Final Fours, is a three-time first-team All-American, national player of the year, won a national championship, No. 1 pick in the draft, NBA all-star and 15-year veteran who will have an opportunity to share his experiences on how to prepare young student-athletes for life

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after college, especially from a professional athlete perspective.

“I think he can be a great role model for all players. He can be a role model for injured players. He’s experienced it all himself — three ACL surgeries and still played 15 years in the league. I don’t know if that’s ever been done before.”

The mere presence of the NBA veteran could help KU in recruiting.

“He’ll be a great addition when prospective recruits and parents come in and want to know and ask questions about life in Lawrence,” Self said.

Manning says he sees this “apprenticeship” as an opportunity to “see if it’s the field or profession I’d like to further get into.

“I know the basketball part of it. That’s the easy part. I have to learn the recruiting process, how to go out and court prospective student-athletes. Things of that nature I have no idea about,” said Manning, who will be paid a salary.

As far as his career as an NBA player … “It’s something I’ve pretty much ruled out,” said Manning, who declined the opportunity to interview for NBA assistant coaching jobs this past offseason. “You never want to say never, but it’s going to have to be a very unique situation for me to pull up and go, not just because of the position I accepted at KU, but my family (wife Julie, children Taylor and Evan) would not be able to go with me.

“As much as I enjoy playing basketball, last year was a long year being away from my family for that long a period of time.”

Manning, who has always been reserved with the press, grinned when asked why he wouldn’t ever officially “retire” from the game.

“Because as soon as I say I retired, another deal comes around and you guys are going to say, ‘You haven’t retired,'” Manning said. “I will not give you that angle. It’s that simple.

“I don’t want a farewell tour, not at all. I’ve never liked sitting at a podium when I played, let alone when I’m done.”

Manning totaled 2,591 points and 1,187 rebounds in his four-year career at KU. He is the eighth-leading scorer in NCAA history and consensus first-team All-America pick in 1987 and ’88. He was national player of the year in ’88 and MVP of the Final Four.

A No. 1 pick of the Los Angeles Clippers, Manning played for seven teams — the Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons. He had career averages of 14.0 points and 5.2 boards a game.