Byron Scott is ready to go back to college ... he tells TMZ Sports he wants to be the head basketball coach of a university!!
The former NBA star -- who spent years managing pro players after his hoopin' days ended -- said after watching March Madness these past couple seasons ... he's got an itch to get on the bench at a school somewhere in the nation.
"I've got that bug," he told us.
Scott revealed he's open to a wide range of programs .