Isiah Thomas Accepts Head Coaching Position

by Seth on Apr 14, 2009 1:23 PM EDT in News Comment 7 comments

Former New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas has accepted Florida International's offer to coach its basketball team, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Andy Katz.

An official announcement is expected later Tuesday. Thomas' representative was in South Florida to finalize the deal, the source said.

A source said Thomas was intrigued by FIU's location in South Florida, its growing football program and the size of its student body (more than 30,000). The source said Thomas was looking for a fresh place to start and that, despite other previous NBA and college opportunities, this is the one that finally piqued Thomas' interest.

Isiah's got two years left on his contract with the Knicks, but I would assume that plans have been made to relieve him of his duties. It's nice for both the Knicks and Isiah to finally severe ties in what has been a tumultuous relationship. It'll be nice for Thomas to have a chance to regenerate some respect from the basketball community out of the public eye. Just because he faltered on one of the biggest stages in sports doesn't mean he can't coach or judge talent. Like a couple other Knick personas before him, we wish him the best but are deeply thankful that he's gone.

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Good Riddance

Isaiah will have a chance to pull off an extremely rare hat trick: messing up franchises and programs in the CBA, the NBA, and now the NCAA.

by chainsaw69 on Apr 15, 2009 1:11 AM EDT reply actions

He is a pathetic person and a worthless manager/executive/coach

I’m so tired of him. He was a great player and champion but that’s where it ends. He ruined the CBA and the owners of that league, he’s a joke with the NBA as a executive and coach.

He just wants all the attention. Poor little fella, so sad for him… lol…

I’m happy with my life and wish him the best but he just needs to go away and maybe do charity work annonamously.

Later

by atlibm on Apr 15, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Isiah is also responsible for the best Knicks draft picks in the last 40 years.

I’ll certainly miss that.

"Ariza on Mobley, trying to put some chillin on his thrillin"
"Vexing D, makes you hurry, makes you worry"

by Serious Garbage Time on Apr 15, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

college is good for him

he has a great eye and will do well recruiting under the radar players, Since he isnt at a top school… those are the kinda guys he will need.

also, he doesnt have to worry about trades or contracts. things that really killed him from a personal standpoint.

by gbaked on Apr 15, 2009 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

totally agree with this

as much of a franchise-killer as isiah was, college is totally in his wheelhouse. people forget that he actually was a decent coach in addition to being a very good judge of talent. i think isiah will be a great recruiter and a good enough coach to have this team possibly winning the Sun Belt (or wherever FIU is).

also, he’s giving his first year salary back to FIU, which is a really classy move. he really should give it to the knicks to help pay for either one of the JJ signings though. can we get, like, child support payments from isiah for those deals?

by latrell chokewell on Apr 15, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions