MIAMI, FLA. – In a state known more as a hotbed for high school football recruiting, basketball gained another measure of notoriety Wednesday when Florida International University introduced NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas as its new men’s basketball head coach.
“This is a very exciting day for me, my family and my new family, my FIU family,” Thomas said. “We want to win and we understand that winning is a process. We understand that it takes a lot of hard work and commitment. This will be a challenge for all of us and we will need the whole community and the entire FIU family to be involved in this journey.”
Isiah Thomas introduced as head coach at Florida International.
Photo By James Oyola
Thomas, a two-time NBA World Champion (1989, 1990) with the Detroit Pistons and former Indiana Pacer and New York Knicks head coach, signed a five-year contract worth about $1.3 million.
When asked how much of an impact this decision would make on the basketball program’s future, FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia said, “It’s all about recruiting.”
Garcia feels that the signing of Thomas is a landmark day in FIU history.
“I wanted to be able to secure the best basketball coach that I could possibly secure for our students-athletes,” Garcia said. “They deserve to play for great coaches. At the end of the day, all they want is to be a better player, a better student and a better person. FIU athletics has a staff of great coaches and Isiah Thomas will be apart of its great group of coaches.”
Florida, home to mythical football national champions in each of the past four seasons (Lakeland in 2005 and 2006, Miami Northwestern in 2007 and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in 2008), is beginning to gain a reputation for top-notch basketball talent.
The emergence of high school basketball superstars Kenny Boynton Jr. (American Heritage, Plantation) and Brandon Knight (Pine Crest, Fort Lauderdale) have centered plenty of attention on the Sunshine State.
Boynton, a 6-foot-3 guard who is the state’s third all-time leading scorer (3,367 points), has signed a letter of intent to play for Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators.
Knight, a 6-4 junior guard who led Pine Crest to consecutive Class 3A state championships, was recently named the Gatorade's national player of the year. He became just the third junior to receive the honor, joining LeBron James and Greg Oden.
Garcia believes with Thomas running the Golden Panther program, blue chip recruits like Boynton and Knight will consider Florida International.
Can Isiah Thomas lure stars like Kenny Boynton Jr. to FIU?
Photo By Jim Redman
“Within the last 48 hours I’ve gotten over 500 text messages and e-mails from potential student-athlete basketball players,” Garcia said. “The kind of athletes that Isiah Thomas will attract to FIU will be the best not only in the state, but in the entire country. Also, we’re an international school. Our basketball team right now consists of players from around the world. I can assure you that we’re not going to leave any stone unturned.”
Garcia also stated that, given Thomas’ fanfare, he should have no problem globalizing FIU’s recruiting process.
“He’s going to go get the best players anywhere in the world,” Garcia said. “He’s obviously going to have an open door to get to those homes. I’ve always said that everything we do revolves around recruiting. Whether we’re recruiting a dean or staff member the choices we make will define what this school becomes throughout the proceeding years.”
Turning a program around isn’t an easy task, prompting Thomas to seek the advice of two pivotal figures in college basketball history, former Indiana University head coach Bobby Knight and Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“I spent a lot of time talking with Coach Knight and Coach K about how Duke got started and how Indiana got started,” Thomas said. “The first think Coach K said to me was how, in his third year, he was about to be fired until he got a player by the name of Johnny Dawkins. In order for this program to turn around, they need to work a little harder, get in the weight room and go to class.”
Despite a checkered run as an executive and coach with the New York Knicks, Thomas’ basketball resume certainly has highlights that could serve as a magnet in attracting elite high school basketball prospects.
As a player, Thomas led Indiana University to a national title in 1981 and the Detroit Pistons to two NBA titles (1989 and 1990).
In five years of coaching at the professional level, Thomas has compiled a record of 187-223, while leading the Indiana Pacers to the playoffs three straight years from 2000-03.
“I’ve won on all levels,” Thomas said. “Winning those championships did not come easy though, it took a lot of dedication and commitment. At the end of the day, we want to be known as one of the top basketball programs in the country. I want to take FIU to the next level. I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work but I’m willing to pay the price to do that.”
Thomas has a tough road ahead as the Golden Panthers have finished below .500 in each of the last nine seasons.
