Larry Brown has been hired by Southern Methodist University.

"I'm thrilled that they think enough of me to put me in this position," Brown said. "I realize how important this hire is, going into the Big East. But it's a thrill. I always thought of myself as a college coach. Now this gives me a chance to get back where I started."

Terms of the deal, including length of contract, weren't immediately known.

"Larry Brown is one of the top coaches in the history of the game," SMU athletic director Steve Orsini said in a statement. "He is a legend and has made every team he has ever coached a winner. As we transition into the nation's top basketball conference, the Big East, his leadership will be invaluable."