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O'Neill named Floyd's successor at USC

Sat 20th, June 2009

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - A little more than a week after the abrupt departure of Tim Floyd, USC athletic director Mike Garrett announced on Saturday that Kevin O'Neill will serve as the Trojans' next head men's basketball coach.

O'Neill, who has 13 years of head coaching experience at the collegiate and NBA levels, will take over for a program that is being investigated for recruiting violations involving former star player O.J. Mayo, who played one season under Floyd before bolting for the NBA.

On June 9, Floyd sent a brief, one-paragraph letter of resignation to Garrett, officially ending a four-year coaching tenure at the school. The Trojans have made the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons, a school record.

"We're thrilled to have Kevin O'Neill as our men's basketball coach," said Garrett. "Kevin is the consummate coach. He knows his Xs and Os, he's an excellent recruiter and he is very in tune with the academic side of a player's collegiate experience. His 30 years of experience at the college and professional levels has prepared him well for this opportunity."

The 52-year-old O'Neill spent last year serving as an assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

He has been a head coach at the college level for Marquette (1990-94), Tennessee (1995-97), Northwestern (1998-2000), and on an interim basis at Arizona (2008), compiling a combined 171-180 record.

Arizona had named him as the successor for Lute Olsen before reassigning him within the athletic department after his NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to coach at such a great institution as USC, with its tremendous athletic and academic tradition," O'Neill said. "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."

O'Neill also served as head coach of the Toronto Raptors in 2004, going 33-49.