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Did USC AD settle again?

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Mike Garrett and Kevin O'Neill were the main attractions at Monday's news conference introducing USC's new basketball coach. O'Neill, the coach, was charming. Garrett, the athletic director who hired him was, uh...Garrett. O'Neill glibly acknowledged that he wasn't the first choice for the position, then pointed to his wife and joked that he wasn't her first choice, either. But Garrett denied it, telling reporters later, "Kevin was my first choice because when I started talking to him, he's the one that I wanted to have. He's the guy who fit what I needed." Which may have meant that he had a pulse and wanted the job. Reminded that Floyd had been hired only after Rick Majerus quickly bailed, and that even Pete Carroll was third or fourth in line for the football job, Garrett said he had no problem making hires.

Los Angeles Times

Mike Garrett, Getty Images Mike Garrett, Getty Images
June 23, 2009  08:36 AM ET

I don't know much about this AD but he made a pretty good hire in Carroll didn't he?

June 23, 2009  09:09 AM ET

O'Neill isn't the sexiest of names but everything about him screams disciplanarian. For a program in turmoil, hiring him makes sense.

June 23, 2009  10:32 AM ET

"O'Neill, the coach, was charming."
Hmmmm... he must have changed a LOT since he coached at Tennessee, then.
J. HOVA-- you're right, he is a disciplinarian. I'm not sure he ever had more than 7 players on the roster in the three years he coached the Vols, because he kicked a couple of players off the team when he came in, and several other players just left during his tenure.
He was a pretty good recruiter at times-- he got CJ Black to come to UT, and CJ was really good once Jerry Green came in as coach. On the other hand, O'Neill also recruited Tony "I tattoo'ed my name on my arm" Harris, the thug princess.
When O'Neill left UT, no one complained. He miraculously keeps getting good coaching jobs, despite being stalked by mediocrity and ill will ever since he left Marquette.
However, he might do well at SoCal. Never know.

June 23, 2009  10:34 AM ET

anybody can be the AD at USC. How hard is it, really? C'mon.

June 23, 2009  10:41 AM ET

Wonder how he'll do with reduced scholly's (once the NCAA finally gets around to closing out their investigation).

June 23, 2009  10:50 AM ET

Doesn't always pay to get your first choice...look at Charlie Weis (so far).

June 23, 2009  11:19 AM ET

O'Neill is a solid coach. Not the sexiest name that was out there, but should provide for a decent foundation. Off we go.

June 23, 2009  11:56 AM ET

garrett seems to have trouble counting...except when he's paying the football team...right reggie

June 23, 2009  12:57 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

I don't know much about this AD but he made a pretty good hire in Carroll didn't he?

He's a horrible AD. He got absolutely lucky on hiring Carroll and since then everybody thinks he's a great AD. Carroll was his 4th choice at best. Garrett turned the baseball program, with the most national titles, into a joke. And with all this going on with Mayo and Bush, I'm surprised the subject of his firing hasn't come up more.

June 23, 2009  12:57 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

garrett seems to have trouble counting...except when he's paying the football team...right reggie

Gee, how original.

June 23, 2009  01:20 PM ET
QUOTE(#1):

I don't know much about this AD but he made a pretty good hire in Carroll didn't he?

Garrett got lucky on that one. He didn't even want Carroll. Just because a guy wins a Heisman doesn't qualify him to run a major college athletic program. Mike Gillespie, one of the better coaches in college baseball, left USC with its 12 CWS championships to take over UC Irvine; a team that never got past the regionals until 2006. So Garret hired Gillespie's son-in-law and USC baseball is in the toilet while UC Irvine was #1 in the polls for most of the season.

USC is #1 all-time in total NCAA Men's Championships and almost none of them have come since Garrett took over 16 years ago. IMO the guy is nothing but window dressing. My heart is with the USC, but Garrett's attitude of settling for what's convenient is contrary to the school's tradition.

June 23, 2009  01:22 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

He's a horrible AD. He got absolutely lucky on hiring Carroll and since then everybody thinks he's a great AD. Carroll was his 4th choice at best. Garrett turned the baseball program, with the most national titles, into a joke. And with all this going on with Mayo and Bush, I'm surprised the subject of his firing hasn't come up more.

Sorry Freak Show, I didn't see your comment. Seems we're saying the same thing.

June 23, 2009  01:43 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Gee, how original.

no, they're not very original...they're just better at it than most...but they have been caught!

June 23, 2009  05:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#12):

Sorry Freak Show, I didn't see your comment. Seems we're saying the same thing.

I would be more than ok with finding another AD. The baseball program is in absolute shambles. It's a shame that with all the talent on the West, we are not one of the premiere programs. No real reason we should not be in the top tier in all major sports, but until Garrett is gone, that probably won't happen.

June 23, 2009  06:05 PM ET

Bad hire. This guy is a jerk and even more profane than the average college coach. I'm almost surprised some NBA player didn't punch him. He will wear old on his players quick. Give him two years and he won't be able to recruit anybody. Todays' player won't put up with his garbage.

June 23, 2009  06:07 PM ET

Bad hire. It's a miracle some NBA player didn't punch him. Within two years he won't be able to recruit anybody.

June 23, 2009  06:09 PM ET

Sorry about the double post. Unintentional.

June 23, 2009  06:22 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

anybody can be the AD at USC. How hard is it, really? C'mon.

It's clear you are either pretty young or stipid, or both. If you recall the Larry Smith and Paul Hackett eras of football at USC, you'd know that. It was not until Pete arrived that we started to get national attention again. The football program was a disaster for 10-15 years and I went to a lot of those games. We sucked for quite a while, lost to UCLA 8 straight years and Notre Dame, I think it was 11 straight years to them. Do your homework. Garrett turned the program around after over a decade of mediocrity, at best.

anybody can be the AD at USC. How hard is it, really? C'mon.

June 23, 2009  07:24 PM ET

Nevermind his overall losing record as a college head coach. I'm fine with O'Neill's hire so long as he doesn't contaminate college hoops with the likes of Guillory, Hacket, Mayo, Li'l Romeo, etc., the way Tim Floyd did.

 
June 23, 2009  07:57 PM ET

Bet Howland's shaking in his boots...

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