LOS ANGELES - Rick Majerus' stint as a college
basketball analyst for ESPN was short-lived.
On Wednesday, Southern California hired Majerus as basketball
coach for next season. Subsequently, Majerus has stepped down
from his job with ESPN to avoid any conflict of interest.
The Trojans fired long-time coach Henry Bibby on December 6 and
appointed assistant Jim Saia interim coach for the remainder of
the season.
"I am excited about the opportunity to coach the USC men's
basketball team," Majerus said. "I consider it an honor and a
privilege. There was no coaching opportunity in America except
the USC job that I would have left ESPN for. I'm looking
forward to my return to coaching. I missed it more than I ever
imagined."
Majerus resigned as Utah's coach in January amid health
concerns.
Before leaving the Utes, Majerus had been forced to take
extended leaves of absence two other seasons since he started
coaching the team in 1989. He coached just six games in his
first season at Utah due to heart bypass surgery in December
1989, then coached one game in the 2000-01 season before taking
a personal leave of absence to deal with his own health issues
and to care for his ailing mother.
The 56-year-old Majerus, who has always had issues with his
weight, suprisingly took the Utes to the Final Four in 1998.
They lost to Kentucky in the championship game.
Majerus went 323-95 in 15 seasons with the Utes. Before that,
he went 56-35 in three seasons at Marquette and 43-17 in two
campaigns with Ball State.
He has never had a losing season and has averaged 21 wins a year
over the course of his career.
"This is an amazing day for the USC men's basketball program,"
USC athletic director Mike Garrett said. "Rick Majerus is one of
America's great coaches. He has a proven track record, he is a
sound technician of the game, he is an outstanding recruiter
and he has done a great job of developing young men.
"And he is one of the sport's true personalities. He is the
prefect fit with USC, our players and our fans as we begin an
exciting era of basketball in the new Galen Center."
In a great mood at the press conference, Majerus was cracking
jokes on topics ranging from joining the USC football team to
his troubles with his health.
"If they ever need me to suit up and be a suburban, white
Gilbert Brown, I'd be more than happy," Majerus said.
"I've had seven bypasses, one for every major food group and two
for the barbecue division," he added.
Praising football coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Matt
Leinhart for their achievements this season, Majerus imparted
the notion that he would like this hiring to be long-term
tenure.
"I hope I die here," Majerus said. "I hope I coach here the
rest of my life. ... I would like to be here as long as they
would like to have me here.
"I hope that Pete Carroll becomes my best friend."