LJWorld.com

Larry Brown, who has had a pair of hip replacement surgeries, has been told by doctors he dare not jog anymore.

"I'm over the hill now," the 68-year-old Brown said at Saturday's "An Evening With Larry Brown and Friends" fundraiser to benefit Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

The only coach to win both NCAA and NBA championships - and only one to lead seven NBA teams to the playoffs - over the hill?

Hardly.

Brown, who on Tuesday will open Charlotte Bobcats' training camp at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, walked 21â2 miles with longtime friend and business partner Doug Compton Friday night, shortly after Compton's private plane touched down with Brown on board at Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The two hiked another three miles Saturday morning, then headed downtown for lunch ... and more walking.

"It was great. I couldn't believe how many people were down there. I thought it was a football weekend," said Brown, who was stopped by several fans asking for his autograph.

Compton said Brown was "on cloud nine" mingling with the people.

"We ate at 'Ingredient.' I said, 'Coach, we own that building.' He didn't know that," said Compton, still involved in business ventures with Brown, who coached at KU from 1983 to '88.

"Since he got here (Friday), he's never quit asking questions about players, coaches, Lawrence, downtown, everything," Compton added.

Brown - he was greeted by former KU player Mike Maddox and former KU athletic director Monte Johnson after arriving for Saturday night's event at Crown Toyota - said his weekend in Lawrence has been thoroughly enjoyable.

"Based on the friendships you make and the association you have with the school and Roy and Bill, and now Danny is coaching. So many of the players are involved in some way. If you spend any time in Lawrence and at KU, you always are going to feel like it's home," Brown said.

Former KU coach Roy Williams, who like Brown is a North Carolina grad, wasn't on hand Saturday. Bill Self, who worked for Brown on KU's 1985-86 staff, and current KU assistant Danny Manning, who along with Brown, Maddox and others led KU to the '88 title, did attend the festivities.

"We actually got together last night," Self said of a gathering at the Eldridge Hotel. "It's the first time we had the coasters out - two coasters were for the big guys and the other three coasters were the guards. We were moving them around and shuffling them around for a couple hours last night. It was fun hanging out with coach and talking ball."

Self learned a lot working for Brown the one season as a grad assistant.

"He knows what he's doing as well as anybody has," Self said. "When I was here the first time, when Danny was a sophomore, I was young, 22 years old. I didn't know anything. I thought I did. I had a chance to come here and soak everything up.

"Coach Brown had a bigger impact on me in the short time I was with him than any other coach in large part because I learned so much because I knew absolutely nothing.

"The thing he taught me as much as anything ... here's a guy who has won at every level and won as much as anybody has won period.

"He's a Hall of Famer and always trying to get better. There's definitely a thirst for learning. Hopefully my staff will have that same thirst."

Brown was gracious as ever on Saturday night at Crown Toyota, visiting with former players, co-workers and fans alike.

"The first impression I have of him is one that has stayed with me, how laid back, mild mannered and almost introverted he was," former KU AD Johnson said. He was referring to his job interview with Brown back in April of 1983.

"Larry is the same today. But on the court ... my gosh he steps into that booth, puts that Superman shirt on and takes off," Johnson added of Brown, known for his fiery demeanor once the ball is tipped.

"In person and public he's a quiet gentleman, a gentle giant. I have nothing but great respect for how bright a coach he is. Our son (Jeff Johnson) who played two years with him as a walk-on, he'd come home and say, 'Dad, every practice is a three-hour clinic.' Larry is a teacher. It's what he said he missed the most (in sitting out the past two years)."

Brown, who led Detroit to the 2004 NBA title, was fired by the New York Knicks after the 2005-06 season.

His comeback begins Tuesday with the Bobcats.

"I'm more nervous than excited, to be honest. I hope I haven't forgotten everything," Brown said. "In my last coaching experience, we didn't do too well. That makes you a little tentative. I am looking forward to coaching the kids and being at practice and hopefully we'll do a good job."

Self says that's a given.

"I'm nervous about this year too," Self said of coaching the 2008-09 Jayhawks. "Every year brings new challenges and anxious moments. Whenever you take over a job, that first few weeks is a nervous time. They'll do well, I guarantee you."

Many, including Maddox, were thankful Brown returned to benefit a good cause so close to the start of the preseason.

"I'm not surprised he came back. Coach Brown, I know, has a great love and feeling for Lawrence and the community and the university," Maddox said. "I'm sure he's very honored to have this tonight. It's great he's back again supporting the community."