Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants to coach the UCLA Bruins

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has expressed an interest in coaching the UCLA Bruins, his alma mater. (Desiree Navarro/Getty Images)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has expressed an interest in becoming the next head coach of UCLA's men's basketball team, according to a report from Bill Dwyre of the Los Angeles Times.

His comments come days after the university parted ways with former head coach Ben Howland, whose team suffered a 2o-point upset to No. 11 seed Minnesota last week.

Jabbar, 65, said he has been "unhappy" with the recent trend of losing at UCLA and hopes to be given the opportunity to state his case for why he would be a good coach. He has already reached out to the athletic director at the school with the hopes of securing an interview, according to the Los Angeles Times report:

"Like all Bruin supporters the recent trend at our school hasn't made me happy. The players don't seem to be learning how to play, and haven't been graduating. We can do better."

School officials have said they will not comment on the process or the candidates.

As a college player, Jabbar led the UCLA Bruins to three national championships in the late 1960s before going on to win six championships in the NBA and retiring as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.