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Isiah accepts FIU coaching job
Associated Press

MIAMI -- Ending a whirlwind courtship, Thomas and FIU agreed on a five-year contract Tuesday -- an out-of-nowhere deal that gives the former Knicks coach and president a chance to restore the reputation he built as a Hall of Fame player and tarnished through a series of embarrassments in New York.

"I'm committed to growing something here, and strongly believe that over time, we'll put a team on the floor that everyone at FIU can be proud of," Thomas said.

FIU is hoping Isiah Thomas can bring some of the success he had during his playing days at Indiana.

Nonetheless, FIU moved quickly to lock up its top choice for the job.

"I know he is a good person," FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said. "Isiah is going to give our fans and alumni a lot of reasons to be excited."

"This is bigger than basketball and bigger than athletics," said FIU president Modesto A. Maidique. "Having a nationally recognized coach like Isiah at FIU will have a positive impact on our university as a whole, helping us achieve additional national exposure."