USCFootball.com - Tim Floyd Resigns

June 9, 2009

Dan Woike
USCFootball.com Staff Writer

When Tim Floyd was flirting with taking the head-coaching job at Arizona, I speculated on ten coaches USC athletics director Mike Garrett should call if the job were to become vacant.

Now two months after Floyd announced he was staying at USC, he's resigned, sending Garrett scrambling for his rolodex.

This time around, USC will have to convince a coach to step in and rebuild a program with a depleted roster, a damaged reputation and possible sanctions on the way.

Still there's a job to be done, and here's a preliminary list of calls Garrett could make.

Call One

Jamie Dixon, head coach, Pittsburgh

This wouldn't have been as hard of a sell a few months ago. Dixon, a native of Burbank, Calif., knows what it takes to compete with Ben Howland ? mostly because he served on Howland's staff at Pittsburgh. This would take a very large amount of money and some help from the NCAA in terms of a light punishment to get done.

Call Two

Scott Drew, head coach, Baylor

Drew took over Baylor at a very dark period. Drew replaced Dave Bliss after Bliss committed a number of violations and one of Baylor's players was murdered by a former player. In the time since then, Drew has gotten Baylor into the NCAA Tournament and into the NIT final this past season. If he could rebuild Baylor from a far worse mess, he could handle the USC project.

Call Three

Bob Knight, former head coach, current TV analyst

The game might have passed Knight by, but he's the one coach USC could hire that could automatically get them back into the news in a more positive light. Knight's a lot of things, but he's not a cheater. He graduates players. He could be the cleaner the Trojans need.

Call Four

Lon Kruger, head coach, UNLV

Kruger has helped rebuild the Runnin' Rebels from some dark days of its own, helping get the team into the NCAA Tournament multiple times. He's experienced running big time programs and wouldn't shy away from the bright lights.

Call Five

Bill Grier, head coach, San Diego

Grier, a product of the Gonzaga system, knows how to win with lesser talents, and with the threat of NCAA sanctions, that could be what USC is forced to work with for the next few years. Since taking over at San Diego, he got the Toreros into the NCAA Tournament and led them to a win over fourth-seeded UConn in 2008.

Call Six

Steve Lavin, former UCLA head coach, TV analyst

Lavin had success while coaching across town, and he knows what it takes to win in this city. He may be difficult to coax out of the broadcasters' chair, but the chance to beat UCLA on a yearly basis could be the kind of carrot he'd chase.

Call Seven

Reggie Theus, former head coach

A native of Southern California, Theus had a very good pro career before moving on to acting and coaching. He only spent two years at New Mexico State, but he led the team to winning records both years. He then went on to coach in the NBA before being fired in 2008.

Call Eight

Paul Westphal, former USC legend

Westphal hasn't coached in college since working at Pepperdine, but he's a name that the alumni would likely get behind. He's perhaps USC 's most famous men's basketball player and could be talked into leading the team back to its right place among the top programs on the West coast.

Official Statement from USC:

The University of Southern California today announced that its men's basketball coach, Tim Floyd, has resigned.

In his letter of resignation, which was published by the Clarion-Ledger newspaper in Mississippi, Mr. Floyd stated, "As of 1:00 p.m. today, I am resigning as head basketball coach at the University of Southern California. I deeply appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the university, as well as the chance to know and work with some of the finest young men in college athletics. Unfortunately, I no longer feel I can offer the level of enthusiasm to my duties that is deserved by the university, my coaching staff, my players, their families, and the supporters of the University of Southern California. I always promised myself and my family that if I ever felt I could no longer give my full enthusiasm to a job, that I should leave it to others who could. I intend to contact my coaching staff and my players in coming days and weeks to tell them how much each of them means to me. I wish the best to USC and to my successor."

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett accepted Mr. Floyd's resignation and said that he will quickly begin the search for a new head basketball coach. Mr. Garrett stated: "I accept Tim's decision and wish him well."

Todd Dickey, Senior Vice President - Administration said, "The University is cooperating fully in the continuing investigation with the NCAA and Pac-10 into all allegations of NCAA and Pac-10 rules violations at USC. The University, the NCAA and Pac-10 have jointly conducted interviews of approximately 50 witnesses. No conclusions have yet been reached.

"At this point," he stated, "it would be both inappropriate and premature to comment further."

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