NBA

Knicks’ D’Antoni raising cash for alma mater Marshall

The NBA lockout at least served one good purpose for Mike D’Antoni, as the Knicks coach reconnected in a big way with his alma mater, Marshall University.

Today, D’Antoni is in Charleston, W.Va., to lunch with alumni at yet another fundraising event. Earlier this summer, D’Antoni and ex-Jets quarterback Chad Pennington were named co-chairmen of the fundraising committee raising money for a $30 million Marshall indoor athletic facility and soccer stadium.

On Sept. 10, before a Marshall-Southern Miss football game, D’Antoni will have his No. 10 basketball jersey retired. Knicks assistant coach Dan D’Antoni, Mike’s brother — who also wore No. 10 at Marshall — will be the presenter.

“Marshall’s been great to me and I’m anxious to do it,” Mike D’Antoni told The Post yesterday regarding his new fundraising gig. “Being on the same side of the country, I can do more for Marshall. It was tougher on the West Coast [in Phoenix].”

It was also tougher when he had more responsibilities as Knicks coach. Since the lockout began July 1, D’Antoni has not been allowed to talk to his players, or even free agents. The NBA also won’t permit coaches to speak publicly about players, the lockout and its ramifications.

“[The lockout] actually worked out well for us,” Marshall athletic director John Sutherland said. “I’m really grateful [D’Antoni] is willing to do this. I can’t overstate the significance Danny and Mike have to Marshall. People are saying to me, ‘Am I really having lunch with Mike D’Antoni?’ He means a lot around here.”

A 6-5 point guard, D’Antoni played for the West Virginia college from 1970 to 1973, is second all-time on the school’s assist list and led Marshall to the NCAA Tournament in 1972. The Thundering Herd has been back just one time since — 1984. D’Antoni’s ’72 squad was ranked 12th in the nation by the Associated Press.

Dan played for Marshall from 1966 to 1969 and also had a distinguished career. Dan was an assistant basketball coach and Mike was a freshman when a 1970 plane crash killed 75 Marshall football players — a tragedy depicted in the movie “We are Marshall.”

“They don’t retire that many numbers so I feel a little funny about it,” said D’Antoni. “A lot of great players wore the same number. Dan averaged more than I did. I was just a taller version and made the NBA. They’re not retiring the jersey number as much as the name. It’s a tossup who had the better career.”

D’Antoni had never met Pennington until last month at another fundraiser, in which the Cline Family foundation donated $5 million to Marshall. Pennington is rehabbing a torn ACL but has not officially retired and has not ruled out playing next season.

“You couldn’t get two better ambassadors for Marshall athletics than Mike and Chad,” Sutherland said. “They had great success both academically and athletically, but these two are great people, the two most unassuming guys you’ve ever met.”

marc.berman@nypost.com