Sustain LAist today!

Your monthly gift during our June member drive powers our local newsroom.
1,485 sustainers of 2,500 goal
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Pink Floyd

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

It looks like USC's next coach will be considerably thinner, healthier, and will probably last longer.The LA Daily News is reporting that Tim Floyd has agreed to become the next Head Coach of USC basketball. Provided USC and the New Orleans Hornets can agree on a financial settlement, Floyd will be introduced next week.

While this is a school with almost zero basketball history, USC drew interest from some impressive names in its coaching search. While UCLA fans have posted here refusing to buy into the "sleeping giant" label for Trojan basketball, there aren't many schools which could publicly attract the interest of big name coaches like Rick Majerus, Tim Floyd, George Karl, Jamie Dixon, Paul Westphal, and Bobby Knight (thank goodness he's not coming here) all in the middle of a basketball season. Credit should go to Mike Garrett and Steve Sample for going to great lengths to revive all Trojan sports.

Tim Floyd represents a good hire for USC. Floyd did an excellent job in college with Iowa State and University of New Orleans before then. He's clearly someone who can coach winning teams on the college level. It's not really fair to judge Floyd based on his tenure with the Bulls, considering Jerry Krause had dismantled the personnel and forced Floyd to run the triangle with a group of scrubs. Some say the Hornets underachieved last year under Floyd, but he still got them a 5-seed in the playoffs, and the team has gone 2-23 since he left.

Regardless, Floyd was never going to be an NBA head coach again, and the college probably suits him better anyways. With a new arena on the way, USC basketball could be very good under Tim Floyd. He's not nearly as great of a coach as Majerus, but few people are.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today