Post by aggiejazz on Apr 15, 2009 14:10:06 GMT -5
MIAMI -- Here's a sign of how badly Isiah Thomas wanted to return to coaching: He's working for free at Florida International.
At his introductory news conference at FIU on Wednesday, Thomas said his salary the first year from the Golden Panthers will be donated back to the school's athletic department.
Thomas was fired by the New York Knicks last year. The team still owes him around $12 million for the final two years of his deal there.
FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said that when Thomas learned about layoffs and budget cuts, he told the university president that the school should keep his salary.
Thomas arrived outside FIU's basketball arena at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, riding passenger in a sleek black Mercedes. Even before he could get out of the car, three well-wishers couldn't wait to greet him.
"Hey! There he is!" shouted one of the men, all of whom got handshakes from Thomas before the car pulled into a parking space.
Thomas said he took the FIU job because he enjoys challenges. He said he talked to Bob Knight, his former coach at Indiana, and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, about what it took to build college programs.
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4070376
At his introductory news conference at FIU on Wednesday, Thomas said his salary the first year from the Golden Panthers will be donated back to the school's athletic department.
Thomas was fired by the New York Knicks last year. The team still owes him around $12 million for the final two years of his deal there.
FIU athletic director Pete Garcia said that when Thomas learned about layoffs and budget cuts, he told the university president that the school should keep his salary.
Thomas arrived outside FIU's basketball arena at 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, riding passenger in a sleek black Mercedes. Even before he could get out of the car, three well-wishers couldn't wait to greet him.
"Hey! There he is!" shouted one of the men, all of whom got handshakes from Thomas before the car pulled into a parking space.
Thomas said he took the FIU job because he enjoys challenges. He said he talked to Bob Knight, his former coach at Indiana, and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, about what it took to build college programs.
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4070376
