New FIU Basketball coach

[wcd35]

_ FWIW, I think the Thomas hire by FIU is brilliant.

It has given FIU more publicity than anything they have done...ever.

It is a great, big, alarm clock of a hire to wake up the FIU students,fans, and alumni.

Look at the facts. New football stadium, Big name hire in basketball. 30k students. Major market.

They are definitely getting serious over there. _

LOL well you are one of the few. The guy has been a joke everywhere he has gone.

[Parrott]

Cyprien and former Rice head coach Willis Wilson hired as assistants today at Memphis.

That means Memphis probably won't be coming to the Cajundome anytime soon. lol!

igeaux.mobi

[MetryCajun]

_ FWIW, I think the Thomas hire by FIU is brilliant.

It has given FIU more publicity than anything they have done...ever.

It is a great, big, alarm clock of a hire to wake up the FIU students,fans, and alumni.

Look at the facts. New football stadium, Big name hire in basketball. 30k students. Major market.

They are definitely getting serious over there. _

I agree with a lot of what you say on this board, but you are way off on this one. Yes, FIU did make a splash but it will not help in the long run. Thomas has been a huge failure in everything he has done, and has been shown to have questionable character. This was not a good hire.

[cajun4life]

_ I agree with a lot of what you say on this board, but you are way off on this one. Yes, FIU did make a splash but it will not help in the long run. Thomas has been a huge failure in everything he has done, and has been shown to have questionable character. This was not a good hire. _

With the exception of the entire situation regarding the New York Knicks, Thomas was successful at Indiana. They made the playoffs and lost to eventual NBA finalists. I would consider that to be successful.

His management skills are questionable, character is questionable as well, but he can coach when the talent is there.

[wcd35]

_ Cyprien and former Rice head coach Willis Wilson hired as assistants today at Memphis.




igeaux.mobi _

I wonder if he ever got a degree..

[zephyr]

_ With the exception of the entire situation regarding the New York Knicks, Thomas was successful at Indiana. They made the playoffs and lost to eventual NBA finalists. I would consider that to be successful.

His management skills are questionable, character is questionable as well, but he can coach when the talent is there. _

I think right now, its a good hire. I don't necessarily know that wins and losses alone will dictate whether this was smart or not. As said before, the hire puts them on the map and sends a message to recruits and schools that FIU is putting its neck out there to be a serious player. I like the move. He will be able to bring in quality athletes simply due to his name. He has been successful as a player and as a coach with Indiana. They had some good teams in his time there. New York was a disaster but he also had Starbury feeding that fire.

[cjr3888]

QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER! Two words that describe FIU! Thomas is a perfect fit dow there. Here's a short list of questionable character incidents that I remember.

Football brawl with Miami
Football team intentionally trying to injure Fenroy
The baseball team

On side note, people bring up how Thomas will be a good recruiter because of his name. While that may be true, the bigger question is his evaluation of talent. I don't think he will bring in any big time recruits that pan out in the long run.


igeaux.mobi

[CajunNation]

I agree with a lot of what you say on this board, but you are way off on this one. Yes, FIU did make a splash but it will not help in the long run. Thomas has been a huge failure in everything he has done, and has been shown to have questionable character. This was not a good hire.

When you're pulling 600 fans a game, you need to rock the boat. This does that, and if he fails, they will have at least raised awareness of their programs considerably. That is REALLY needed down there.

The fact that this situation is a win financially for them only makes it better.

[shof]

It has definitely thrust the program into the spotlight nationally. That in and of itself is positive for them. Before this hire I'd bet the majority of this country didn't have a clue about FIU.