Posted By Lynn Worthy, Sun Staff
It is official. Former Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas has accepted the head coaching position at Florida International University.
Thomas spent the past five seasons prior to this year as the President of Basketball Operations for the New York Knicks. The last two seasons he also served as head coach. A two-time NBA Champion and a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, Thomas had three seasons as head coach of the Indiana Pacers (2000-03).
Thomas' run with the Knicks included some controversy. He and current Celtics point guard Stephon Marbury butted heads last season with Marbury eventually leaving the team during a road trip in Phoenix (Marbury claimed Thomas told him to leave, Thomas claimed he went AWOL). Prior to his final season, Thomas was named in a sexual harrassment suit which ended up costing the Knicks (not Thomas personally) $11.6 million in a settlement.
Thomas' college career at the University of Indiana included a NCAA Championship in 1981 (Thomas was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament). He was drafted by the Pistons with the second overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft.
Thomas won NBA titles with the Pistons "Bad Boys" teams in 1989 and 1990, winning the NBA Finals MVP in 1990. He finished his NBA career with 18,822 points, 9,061 assists and 1,861 steals. He was selected to be an NBA All-Star 12 times.
Thomas replaces Sergio Rouco who has been reassigned from his position as men’s basketball head coach to another position within the FIU Athletic Department. In five seasons as men’s basketball head coach, Rouco led the Golden Panthers to a 55-94 record. This past season FIU went 13-20.
I wouldn't hire Isiah Thompson (that's what they called him at the press conference) to manage a McDonald's much less coach a college team. Just shows that ANY publicity for a school that has none is worth selling your soul for...