NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Just going by his resume, Chuck Person appears to have a pigeon-holed future as an NBA coach or executive.

There are, of course, exceptions and opportunities that would be too good to overlook.

Coaching at a major college in a major conference would be one of them, Person said Thursday.

“Obviously, the pros would be my first choice, but if I could get a good college job in a good conference, yeah, I would look into it if the opportunity presents itself,” Person said Thursday at Bridgestone Arena, shortly after receiving the SEC Legends honor during halftime of Auburn’s season-ending loss to Florida.

“I think I’m kind of institutionalized when it comes to the pros — 15 years as a player and 10 as a coach or an executive in the front office. But if the opportunity presents itself, like any coach, you want to be a head coach at the highest level.”

Person, Auburn’s all-time leading scorer, is currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, serving as a special assistant to NBA legend Phil Jackson. He’s also served as an assistant coach with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings since retiring from the league in 2000.

With Jeff Lebo’s job status in limbo following the Tigers’ seventh consecutive season without an NCAA Tournament berth, Person has been considered by some fans as a desirable replacement, should Lebo be fired.

Person said he has heard rumors about Lebo’s future, just like everyone else, but fully supports the six-year coach.

“I think Coach Lebo has done a good job with the situation he came into and the players he has to work with,” Person said. “But, obviously, you can’t win unless you get players and that’s the main thing.

“The kids are in a situation where Auburn is a football school, so you have to understand the dynamics of the situation in order to realize your prospects of winning when you’re a coach at a school like that.”

The players were the key in saving Sonny Smith’s job in 1985, Person said. Person was a key member of that squad, which underachieved during the regular season but shocked the SEC when it won four games in four days at the SEC Tournament, becoming the first team to ever accomplish the feat.

The Tigers went on to bigger and better things in 1986, rolling through the season and upsetting No. 1 St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament before bowing out in the Elite Eight.

“You want to be there for the guy who brought you in on the scholarship, so Sonny was a friend to all of us, a father figure,” Person said. “So we were all doing it for him. We found something we can hang our hats on and really play for and that’s what we did.”

Auburn, though, could not rally around the embattled Lebo on Thursday, leaving many to wonder if Person could be next in line.

“Basketball is important to me at Auburn,” Person said. “I understand the football situation there and Auburn can win at basketball as well as football if you get the right players to do it with.”

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