Tim Floyd resigned from USC as basketball coach in 2009 amid an NCAA investigation, but that has not stopped the two sides from possibly reuniting in the future, as the current UTEP men's basketball coach has spoken with the school about returning to his old job again.
According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Floyd has spoken with USC athletic director Pat Haden about the possibility of coming back to the school as head basketball coach. The contact was confirmed by UTEP athletic director Bob Stull on Tuesday, who said that Haden first contacted him six weeks ago about meeting with Floyd.
The road back to USC for Floyd is paved with the memories of when he left the last time, as the coach resigned in June of 2009 as the program was plagued with an NCAA investigation for improper conduct and benefits. Both the basketball and the football teams were investigated by the NCAA, with the school eventually imposing a number of sanctions.
The basketball program was investigated for it's recruitment of star guard O.J. Mayo, who eventually left and was drafted as the number three pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who then traded him to the Grizzlies. The NCAA eventually ruled that Floyd did not personally commit any violations and the team did not play in the postseason after he resigned.
"Coach Floyd has always indicated to me that he is happy working at UTEP, and until he tells me otherwise he is our coach," Stull said.
Floyd spoke with The Los Angeles Times on Monday and said that he felt it was "important for his former players and coaches to know that he talked to Haden about the job." Floyd's contract with UTEP runs through the 2015 season and he is getting paid $600,000 a year, according to the El Paso Times.
"I feel they should know that USC reached out, that no violations were found by the NCAA with USC basketball," Floyd told the newspaper. "I felt like I got my name back when I got offered a number of jobs when I left USC. Pat and I talked at length."
Floyd took over at USC and took the program to its best success in years, going 85-50 over four seasons while making three NCAA Tournaments, including one Sweet 16. Kevin O'Neill took over the team in 2009 and was the coach until earlier this year when he was fired by Haden.
"I feel they should know that USC reached out, that no violations were found by the NCAA with USC basketball," Floyd told the newspaper. "I felt like I got my name back when I got offered a number of jobs when I left USC. Pat and I talked at length."
Floyd has compiled a 56-39 record in three seasons with UTEP. Floyd spoke about the meeting with Hayden, saying it lasted three hours. This season he has guided the Miners to a 16-12 record, including 9-5 in-conference. His best team with USC was in 2007 when he had Nick Young, Gabe Pruitt and Taj Gibson, who helped lead the team to the NCAA Tournament before losing to North Carolina in the regional finals.
Floyd said when he resigned that he felt he wasn't supported by then-athletic director Mike Garret, who was later fired. Floyd spent time away from basketball before joining UTEP and he has helped turn around the program with solid recruiting classes and five-star guard Isaac Hamilton.
Floyd had chances to leave USC while he was coach, but he rebuffed offers from Arizona and Memphis.
