Hi everyone - I saw this article today with an update on his contract status. Pretty interesting... As I've said, I'm not a big Isiah Thomas fan, but I think this is a great deal for FIU. You better believe I'm going to start following their program, which this hiring does.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/04/23/thomas.ap/index.html?eref=sircrc
With Isiah Thomas agreeing on Tuesday to take over the men's basketball program there, I thought I'd give you a little info about the school, because, let's be honest, you've probably never heard of Florida International before.
They're considered a commuter school, along the lines of a Cal State Fullerton, with their main campus in Miami. They started classes back in the early 70's and now have approximately 30,000 undergraduates.
As to their basketball program, they are a member of the Sun Belt Conference, along with schools such as Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, South Alabama, New Orleans, Middle Tennessee State and North Texas (along with a few others...). They are what is known as a "Mid Major" program.
Two current alumni in the pro's are Carlos Arroyo and Raja Bell.
The athletic director of the school, Pete Garcia, has been building up the sports programs of the school since taking over in 2006. He hired famous Arizona State assistant baseball coach, "Turtle" Thomas (you may know him from his how-to catching dvd's) to take over the baseball program and has been instrumental in building the new on campus football stadium which is due to open this fall.
To be honest, I dislike Isiah Thomas, however, I think this is a GREAT hire for the school. What's the downside? In an era where a lot of the top high school basketball players are only staying in college for 1 year, why not go to South Florida and play for Isiah Thomas for a season? If you're a point guard, wouldn't you want to learn from him? So you spend a season in the Sun Belt Conference before moving to the NBA, it's not like it's going to hurt your draft stock.....
To go to the FIU sports website, click on the title.
Bill
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