ONeill takes on reclamation project at USC
June 23rd, 2009 Posted in NCAA basketball news, NCAA college basketballKevin ONeill took over Southern Californias troubled basketball program on Monday, promising to try to win next season under the weight of an NCAA investigation and the departures of three starters and several recruits.
Theres nothing here that says you cant win and thats why I like this job, he said after being introduced by athletic director Mike Garrett at a campus news conference.
Both ONeill and Garrett refused to answer questions about the coachs contract at the private university, including its length.
Hopefully, hes here forever, Garrett said.
The 52-year-old coach returns to the college ranks after spending last season as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzles.
My attraction to the job was simple, its USC, ONeill said. They major in graduation and championships here, two pretty good things.
The titles, however, belong to the powerhouse football program and to sports other than basketball, which was on the upswing until Tim Floyd resigned suddenly on June 9 amid allegations that he paid to have O.J. Mayo play for him at USC.
In Floyds four-year tenure, the Trojans reached the NCAA tournament the last three seasons and won the schools first Pac-10 tournament title in March.
I want to be able to continue the good things that Tim is doing here and has done here, ONeill said. Hes really done a nice job with the program.
ONeill said he had no qualms about taking over during tough times. He said Garrett told him everything he needs to know about the past.
I really didnt care what had happened and we didnt get into detail because thats not my place. I was taking the job no matter what. I wanted the job from the beginning because its USC, he said.
The fact that theres an investigation going on never changed my view of the university at all. Were going to deal with whatever comes out of this and be positive and move forward.
But ONeill would be affected by any fallout.
If the NCAA can prove Floyd paid to have Mayo delivered to USC, that would be considered a major violation. The Trojans could be forced to forfeit victories, and they could face recruiting restrictions and lose scholarships.
The football team also is under NCAA investigation for alleged improprieties involving Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush.
We want to get it over, Garrett said of the twin investigations. We can only go as fast as they (NCAA) want to go.
The ongoing investigation, along with the departures of starters DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett for the NBA and several recruits asking out of their commitments, may have put off others Garrett reportedly sought for the job, including Pittsburghs Jamie Dixon, UNLVs Lon Kruger and former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy.
I wasnt her first choice, either, ONeill said, nodding in the direction of his wife of three years. If people did shy away from this job for some reason, Im glad they did. I wasnt shying away from this job at all. Theres challenges in every job and were going to meet the challenges.
Floyd has not addressed the allegations that he paid $1,000 cash in 2007 to an associate of Mayo, who played one season at USC before leaving early for the NBA.
Tim was not forced out, Garrett said. It was a surprise that he resigned.
Floyd has kept a low-profile since his resignation, although ONeill said the former coach called him after he accepted the job and spoke positively of his time at USC. ONeill said he didnt discuss the USC job with Mayo, who plays for the Grizzlies.
ONeill returns to the Pac-10 after serving as interim coach at Arizona in 2008 when Lute Olson took a leave of absence. ONeill led the Wildcats to a 19-15 record and the schools 24th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the nations longest active streak.
He was designated Olsons permanent successor, but when the Hall of Famer returned that spring he announced ONeill would no longer be part of the program.
I went there to be an assistant, and the next thing I knew I was the interim head coach and I was the successor coach, then I was gone, he said.
I learned a lot during that year. I think experiences like that really toughen you up as a coach and really make you appreciate good experiences. There were some trying times there.
However, ONeill said he was treated fairly in Tucson.
Lute deserved the opportunity to come back and be the coach. He had earned that over a Hall of Fame career, he said. A lot of people said a lot of things after I left, I didnt say anything. I dont have any ill will or any bad feelings whatsoever, plus I ended up in a better job.
ONeill is 171-180 in 12 seasons as a college head coach, including stints at Marquette, Tennessee and Northwestern.
Along the way, hes developed a reputation for being fiery both on and off the court. But he went on the offensive, bringing the issue up first.
Contrary to popular demand, Im not Darth Vader. You would think I was slaying people every time you turn around, he said.
Over the years, Ive been in situations where not all the players always like the coach. Well, guess what? The coaches dont like all the players sometimes either, especially when youre in rebuilding situations. I think our players will enjoy playing for me.
