Nothin' But Nest

Peruse the images below for a detailed look at seven objects in Mr. Lonergan's office, offering some insight into the man, the job and the game. (All photos/William Atkins)

This office, in an old limestone townhouse across 22nd Street from the Charles E. Smith Center, has

served GW men's basketball coaches for decades, and it now serves Mike Lonergan, who took over the program in 2011. It's different from a lot of coach's offices because it's not in a gym—and that's Mr. Lonergan's favorite part. He can look out and see the campus, see the students, see the fans, see Washington.

"Before the games, I'll walk out and people are lining up to go [into the Smith Center]," Mr. Lonergan says. "I'll just walk across the street with my clipboard. I like the fans—they'll say, 'Oh, good luck, coach'—and I'll bump into them right when I walk to the gym. It's kind of neat."

—Matthew Stoss

FAMILY NOOK

Everything about a young Mr. Lonergan is in this nook, including pictures of his late mother (who coached his youth-league team), his childhood (and his mop-top haircut), and an autographed photo of his favorite Celtic: seven-time allstar point guard JoJo White.

REC LEAGUE TROPHY

Shortly after the end of his playing days at the Catholic University of America in 1988, Mr. Lonergan and a group of his buddies played in a rec league based in D.C.'s Langdon Park and sponsored by then-NBA guard John Battle (he retired in 1995 after a 10-year career). They won the league and this trophy. Mr. Lonergan keeps it on display, a symbol of his D.C. cred.

BASKETBALL GAME GLOBE

When Mr. Lonergan's five kids visit, they school him in this plastic handheld ball-and-hoop game.

COURT FLOORS

Mr. Lonergan is a self-described "carpet guy" but says his hardwood floors have grown on him. Installed two summers ago, they mimic a basketball court—not as much as the floors downstairs, though. The lobby has a full replica of the Smith Center court underfoot.

CONVERSATION TABLE

This is more than a coffee table. Its salmagundi of news clippings, books and hoops paraphernalia is curated as a conversation starter for recruits and their families. Currently on display: a newspaper article from when Kobe Bryant visited the Smith Center, literature on the GW team's Italy trip and a bit on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's high school coach, who was friends with Mr. Lonergan's coach at CUA.

JAPANESE FLAG

In the spring, Mr. Lonergan, along with GW players Kevin Larsen and Yuta Watanabe—a native of Japan—visited the White House for a ceremony involving Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Little Japanese flags were passed out at the event as souvenirs, and Mr. Lonergan stuck his on his desk, opposite a little American flag.

RED AUERBACH

No GW basketball coach's office would be complete without a little Red Auerbach, BS '40, MA '41. Consider Mr. Lonergan's office complete. He has two items that once belonged to the late Celtics coach, who won nine NBA championships and, in retirement, was a fixture at GW games: a basketball signed by a Shawnta Rogers-led Colonials team and a plaque with a smiling, cigar-chomping Red.