It's a short list.

Very short. Count 'em on one hand short. Too short, to be honest.

The list of former Marshall stars who actively are involved in the athletic program and give back to Marshall and the Huntington community in philanthropist fashion is a quick read.

There is Chad Pennington, of course. The former Marshall star quarterback's involvement is well documented from his 1st and 10 Foundation to delivering the 2009 commencement address.

Then, there are Troy Brown and Mike Bartrum. The former Marshall and NFL football stars' annual Bartrum And Brown Charity and Football Camp will celebrate it's 10th year in 2010.

And, then, there's. ... well, that's it.

Sure, there are several former Herd standouts that still are involved in the athletic program, but primarily through functions spear-headed by Pennington, Brown and Bartrum.

So, essentially, the list ends after those three.

It may not stay that brief, however.

Right, Mike D'Antoni?

"Yes, I would be interested in getting more involved with Marshall," said the former Herd star point guard. "It probably would have to be down the road a little bit. I've got a lot going on with coaching (the NBA's New York Knicks) and USA Basketball.

"But I'd definitely be interested in getting re-involved."

Absence obviously has made the West Virginia native's heart grow fonder.

It had been about 10 years since D'Antoni had returned to Marshall until he served as keynote speaker for the Big Green Scholarship Foundation Dinner Thursday night.

The hiatus was too long.

For us. For D'Antoni. For the Herd universe.

We need to admire him up close, not from afar. And D'Antoni made it clear during his return that the idea is appealing.

"It's always good to go home," said D'Antoni. "We came down Monday and I forgot how beautiful coming into West Virginia was.

"We drove down and couldn't have had a better day. Being home in Mullens was great, seeing my dad (Lewis) and family. Then, in Charleston with my brother (Mark) and, then, here in Huntington.

"It's always good to come back."

It literally was "old home week" for D'Antoni.

"Yeah, it was," he said. "This is a special place. ... a special time. There's so many memories about so many things. It's been close to 40 years. And that's a long time and a lot of things have gone down and a lot of things happened when I was here.

"But the people of Huntington, the school, the relationships that you have. ... they don't change. The memories of playing with one of the better teams in the nation and playing in front of a packed house at Memorial Field House. ... that doesn't change.

"We just don't forget that."

If D'Antoni lives as long as his 95-year-old father, he still will never forget that. Sure, he's on the grandest basketball stage of all -- the NBA in New York City -- but that doesn't diminish how he feels about home.

And Marshall is home.

"Again, I'm excited about everything I'm doing now and going forward and all that," said D'Antoni. "But, at the same time, it's nice to reach back and prepare a little bit for my talk.

"To have some of the feelings come up and revisit that was great. ... great."

So great, D'Antoni would like more.

During his speech Thursday night, D'Antoni said if he had only four years to coach, he'd like those four years to be at Marshall.

Welcome home, Mike.

We hope to see more of you.

Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.

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