LOS ANGELES — Kevin O’Neill returned to the college ranks Saturday when he was announced as Southern California’s basketball coach, taking over from Tim Floyd.
The school announced O’Neill’s hiring in an e-mail. Floyd suddenly resigned June 9 amid allegations that he paid to have O.J. Mayo delivered to the Trojans. He said he was quitting after four seasons because he no longer had enthusiasm for his job.
O’Neill, who was coach at Tennessee from 1994-97, is scheduled to be introduced Monday at a campus news conference.
UT will play at Southern Cal this coming season with a date not officially set at present.
“We’re thrilled to have Kevin O’Neill as our men’s basketball coach,” athletic director Mike Garrett said in a statement. “I love his coaching philosophy and principles: he’s a no-nonsense coach who is very detail-oriented and prepares his teams well. He stresses defense and I’ve always believed that defense wins championships.”
O’Neill’s NBA tenure seemingly appealed to Garrett as well.
“His 30 years of experience at the college and professional levels has prepared him well for this opportunity,” Garrett said.
The 52-year-old defense-oriented coach was an assistant with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies this past season. Mayo plays for the Grizzlies. O’Neill led the Toronto Raptors to a 33-49 record in 2004.
O’Neill also had stints with the New York Knicks, Detroit and Indiana.
He returns to the Pac-10 after serving as interim coach at Arizona in 2008 when Lute Olson took a leave of absence.
During his tenure in Tucson, O’Neill led the Wildcats to a 19-15 record and the school’s 24th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the nation’s longest active streak.
He was designated Olson’s permanent successor, but when the Hall of Famer returned that spring he announced O’Neill would no longer be part of the program.
O’Neill was 36-47 at UT and is 171-180 in 12 seasons as a college coach with other stops at Marquette and Northwestern.
O’Neill takes charge of a USC program that won at least 20 games and made the NCAA tournament each of the last three seasons, both school records, at a university best known for its powerhouse football program, which is also being investigated by the NCAA.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity to coach at such a great institution as USC, with its tremendous athletic and academic tradition,” he said in the statement. “I appreciate Mike Garrett’s confidence in me. I will work my hardest to coach us to a championship level every single day. I can’t wait to get started.”
But all is not well with the Trojans as O’Neill moves into a program under investigation by the NCAA for alleged improprieties involving Mayo, who played one season at USC before leaving for the NBA.
Floyd has never addressed the allegations involving Mayo.
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.
Since the Trojans’ season ended in March, starters DeMar DeRozan, Taj Gibson and Daniel Hackett, along with Marcus Johnson, declared for Thursday’s NBA draft, and the Trojans have lost eight recruits.
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Comments » 25
sjackson#227599 writes:
This is a train wreck waiting to happen. Kevin O'Neil has been impossible to get along with in every head coaching job he has ever had. He will flame out within a couple of years.
smyrnavol writes:
mr. jackson hold back that urge. it aint worth it.lol
FWBVol writes:
I too wonder what USC is thinking in hiring Kevin O'Neill. It seems he used a run in the NCAA tournament while he was at Marquett to keep himself somewhat relevant in the coaching business.
Forgetting his legendary temper tantrums, which might be second only to Bob Knight, the guy has a losing record in the pros and college.
It's nice to know he'll be someone else's headache.
kiffownsfla writes:
Lmfao! Isn't he like the worst head bb coach in ut history lol unreal!
Slystone writes:
Have to agree with those on here. WTF is USC thinking of? If he is there more than 2 or 3 years it will be a miracle.
kiffownsfla writes:
Book say wats up BIG! That 0neil clown was a era I NEVER WATCHED! BOOKES SAY MIX ONE BIG! GO VOLS!
MidTennVol writes:
Why does the KNS report this stuff? Do they think we actually miss this guy? And where's the nonstop coverage on every other living coach to once wear the orange and white?
Where's Wade Houston, Jerry Green, et al -- better yet, their assistants and GAs? We want to KNOW, KNS.
Where's the assistant men's track coach from 1968? Where's the LadyVols tiddlywinks coach from the late 1970s? The assistant catching coach from 1981's Lady Vols softball team?
I went to high school with a monster LB who got a scholarship to UT. He flunked out after one semester. Last I heard he was washing cars back in the hood. Where's the column on him?
My point: why have a staff covering sports at a major div. I school if you don't use them? WHERE'S THE COVERAGE? THE INSIGHT? THE CREATIVITY?
Why do you guys keep getting scooped by Chatt. and Bristol and Kingsport and Nashville papers?
Some of you may remember back when the KNS charged for GoVolsExtra. That didn't last very long. Know why?
Because we all soon found out it wasn't worth it.
newtonrail writes:
Who knows where O'Neil really is 12 years after leaving UT? However, he had to " blow up" the roster with the few Houston left. He built the recruiting base that Jerry Green made a living off of. From the little I've read, there isn't much left at USC; and the NCAA may hit them with probation down the road. O'Neil was never a good fit a UT, but he was and maybe still is a good BB Coach.
newtonrail writes:
I live out of town so it helps me to get whatever KNS is peddling. What do you want them to report in June? They can't legally cover FB camps. I for one do want to know what our ex coaches are doing. If you want to ask where creativity went? It died when Gary Lundy did in 2004. RIP.
Voluvr writes:
Kevin O'Neill is so foul in even his everyday vocabulary that one year at UT on his birthday someone brought a cake into the athletic dept. that read, "Happy F'in Birthday."
newtonrail writes:
I will give you one on the Newsy part: Tony Williams tore his ACL and is out for the year, and this site hasn't covered it. Volquest and 3rdSaturday had it up yesterday.
MidTennVol writes:
I hear you: I live in Denmark, which is pretty much out of town too. The ONLY link I have to my beloved Vols is whatever is online and I start here every morning.
What do I want them to report in June? Well, let's see...
A story on how to exploit Monte's Tampa Two defense.
A story on if BP is going to force the hoops team back to the pressing, controlled chaos scheme that once defined UT basketball and, if so, how he would do that. The pros, the cons, etc.
A sit-down with Lance Thompson and Al Wilson on the LB position.
A sit-down with other coaches and former All-SEC/American players on each skill position.
A review of the kicking game that might include some insights from Fuad Reviez, John Becksvoort and others.
How a defense can attack a zone-blocking scheme.
An analysis of the Raiders' play selection under Kiffin, what seemed to work when and what didn't.
I could sit here and type for 30 more minutes and come up with a least a dozen story ideas that I know I would want to devour.
Good point about Lundy. I miss him too. RIP, Gary.
CoverOrange writes:
USC is looking at probation, loss of scholarships, fines, etc. ONeill is the perfect bridge coach. He comes cheap, can recruit under restrictive circumstances and will provide plenty of reasons to fire his butt after a few seasons just when the probation abates. The next coach will be all set up, as long as they don't hire Jerry.
mcoffman#222182 writes:
This is an absolutely crazy hire. Someone at USC failed the due dilligence test. The guy is a head case.
bigaldaddy writes:
Good Fing luck USC when you and Washington State engage in an epic 48 - 42 battle, when UCLA beats you in the exciting 64 - 46 backyard brawl. Come on USC have a little class.
MidTennVol writes:
You mean Toney Williams, the RB who had such a great spring? Holy moly...how can the local sports section of the hometown newspaper not report that?
I rest my case.
Thanks for the news, as sad as it is...
chargervol writes:
I was really impressed by this young man. He seemed to have been a little under the radar. It really looked as if he was going to bring some toughness to the position. Hope for a full recovery. GO VOLS!!!
middlegavol writes:
O'Neil comes cheap and when USC gets their scholarships back and the probation is over they can give him the door and hire a real coach. I'n sure O'Neil is under no illusions here. This is just a resume stuffer for him for when he leaves USC.
Bigger_Al writes:
Wow. I'd love to see what UofAz papers are writing about this. Lute Olson came out of his grave faster than Lazarus to keep Kevin O'Neill from getting the reigns to his legacy, and now USC hires him.
My prediction for USC: 2 years of ugly, barely .500 basketball with great defense, non-existent offense despite some encouraging recruiting. O'Neill bolts for the keys to the Clippers, and keeps them in their lottery winning ways!
BillVol writes:
Good move by USC. KO will bring order to that program. I wish him well.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dupree said the NCAA arranged
this as a secret death penalty.
Dupree is seldom worng.
gmoneyvol writes:
Kevin sure liked to cuss. So does Coach K, a little-known fact that the media covers up because he is some kind of basketball saint or something.
scvols writes:
Coach O'Neill will have USC in the Sweet 16 in two years. I can see it now, O'Neill's USC team against Pearl's UT team.
Colliervol writes:
Probably the only guy that would take the job right now and I'm sure they got him cheap. If they can get anybody to even go to the games now, hide the children and bring the ear plugs.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Buzz Perterson for one. The guy can't coach a lick, but I would rather have a nice guy that can't coach than a embarrassing jerk that everyone claims is a good coach..... but can't win games.
Fact of the matter is that ole Kevvykins isn't any good. Recruit all you want, but you have to win games.
I have trouble believing anyone would stand up for a guy that has a losing track record and verbally abuses players and staff.
Reason? pffft
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