Knicks Sorta Subsidizing Isiah's College Coaching Gig

2009_04_rukid.jpg Isiah Thomas isn't just leaving the Knicks to coach basketball at Florida International University—he's coaching at FIU for free. The AP reports, "Thomas said his salary the first year from the Golden Panthers will be donated back to the school's athletic department... 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." Of course, the Knicks still owe him $12 million for the rest of his contract. Thomas told reporters, "I like rolling up my sleeves. I like taking some from the bottom and building it to the top. There's a lot of risk in that and there is also a lot of reward in that. But that's how I grew up." Remember when Isiah said he would bring a championship to the Knicks? Good luck, FIU.

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Comments (5) [rss]

No Salary?

He's worth every penny

Prediction: FIU runs afoul of NCAA rules within a year.

Why anyone anywhere thinks this guy can coach is beyond my comprehension. The AD at FIU will soon find himself without a job b/c of this hire. I don't care if he is "free."

FIU's average attendance this past season was 700 per game. This is a publicity move, and will probably work at least from that standpoint, at least in the short term. Increased attendance next year is pretty much a given.

Those poor kids. What did they do to deserve this?

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