What They Are Saying About Tim Floyd
“Tim Floyd is one of the really outstanding coaches in the game. His teams play really hard together, share the ball, and his players consistently improve under his teaching. I have always really enjoyed watching Tim’s teams play because they are so tough to play against. You get nothing easy against a Tim Floyd-coached team. I’m glad to see Tim back at UTEP. The Miners got another really good one in Tim Floyd.”
Jay Bilas, ESPN Basketball Analyst
“We are excited for Tim and wish him nothing but success in his new endeavor. He has been a great asset as the lead assistant coach and for all of us at the Hornets. He excels at teaching the game and is a perfect fit for a storied program like UTEP.”
Jeff Bower, New Orleans Hornets General Manager and Head Coach
“He is a great person and someone who is going to make sure that the UTEP program is pretty much one of the best in the country. His basketball knowledge and personality will get that done. He will do the right thing for the players and program and put them in the right position to succeed. I wish him the very best.”
Antonio Davis, Former UTEP player and NBA star
“I think his hiring is a home run. I remember working for Tim at Idaho when he was the youngest head coach in the nation. I was the first assistant he ever hired. He always wanted to go back to UTEP and really always has. This isn’t just a regular job for Tim Floyd. His second father was coach Haskins. There are a lot of great memories for him. He always talked about his dream job, and that was to be the head coach at UTEP. It is interesting how things work and we can go full circle. I couldn’t be happier.”
Larry Eustachy, Southern Miss men’s basketball head coach
“No question about it, I love the guy with all of my heart. He has been so instrumental to my basketball career, and if it wasn’t for him a lot of things wouldn’t have happened in my life. It’s a great opportunity for him at UTEP. I feel bad about what happened at USC, because I know what kind of person he is and I know in my heart that he had nothing to do with what took place there. A lot of people wonder why I chose Iowa State over a lot of other places, and the main reason was Tim Floyd. Thank God he has gotten the opportunity to continue his career, especially at a place where he got started as an assistant with coach Haskins. I’m really excited for him, and I’m looking forward to next basketball season.”
Marcus Fizer, no. 4 overall pick in 2000 NBA Draft
“That is great news. He is obviously a proven coach. He is a hell of a recruiter… he recruited Tim Hardaway, Antonio Davis and myself. His record speaks for itself. He preaches defense. He is the type of coach who can make this team extra special. The team had a very special year but he can take it over the top. It’s important that he is a defensive-minded coach, a Don Haskins’ disciple.”
Greg Foster, former UTEP Player and NBA player
“My guess is that every coach in Conference USA right now is scared. There is not a better combination of coach and recruiter than Tim Floyd. He is vastly underrated as an Xs and Os guy, and he is a relentless proven recruiter. I’m glad that he has made his way back into college basketball. He is one of those coaches that is fun to watch for a variety of reasons. He is unpredictable in his coaching style, and you don’t know to expect when you go watch a Tim Floyd-coached team. He is not set in his ways. He is a guy who will keep you on your toes and keep opponents guessing. Ultimately with the hiring of Tim Floyd, UTEP won’t miss a beat.”
Jeff Goodman, FoxSports.Com
“That’s great to hear about Tim Floyd being hired at UTEP. It is a wonderful choice to bring somebody back to the school who knows the community and the direction the program wants to go in. UTEP and El Paso could not have done any better. He is family to me, and I’m ecstatic about his hiring”
Tim Hardaway, former UTEP Player and NBA All Star
“He has been a wonderful friend. Tim is not only a good, good man but he is a wonderful recruiter and wonderful, wonderful coach. UTEP is just going to go up hill and continue to succeed.”
Mary Haskins, wife of the late Hall of Fame Coach Don Haskins
“In terms of basketball minds, Tim Floyd is one of the best. He has won everywhere he has been at the collegiate level, and I see no reason why that shouldn’t continue in El Paso.”
Gary Parrish, CBSsports.com
“We’re all delighted to welcome Tim Floyd back home. He brings Miner pride and tradition to the UTEP men’s basketball program. As a former assistant to coach Don Haskins, he’s uniquely qualified to bring glory back to Glory Road.”
Dr. Diana Natalicio, UTEP President
“We are very pleased that Tim is coming back to UTEP. Not only has he been a successful college coach, taking three different teams to the NCAA Tournament, but he has been a head coach in the NBA as well. He is an outstanding coach and recruiter, and is well-connected in the El Paso community from his days as an assistant to the legendary coach Don Haskins.”
Bob Stull, UTEP Director of Athletics
“The return of Tim Floyd to UTEP, where he cut his teeth as a basketball coach under the greatest Miner of all, Don Haskins, is fantastic news for all who love the city of El Paso. Miner basketball and the city of El Paso share a bond matched by a precious few programs in the country, and Tim fully appreciates the importance of this bond. When I first met him as an assistant to coach Haskins in the early 1980s he had greatness written all over him. He has won big at every step of his college head coaching career and his experience in the NBA is a huge benefit to him as a college coach. Tim is a proven commodity as a game coach, preparing for an opponent, program promoter, communicator and recruiter. Hiring a new coach is generally a gamble, a leap of faith, but the hiring of Tim is a sure thing. He is simply one of the finest coaches in the country.”
Chris Wallace, Memphis Grizzlies General Manager
“Tim is a fine coach and we know that he will succeed at UTEP. He is a proven winner, a great person and we thank him for his time at the Hornets.”
Hugh Weber, New Orleans Hornets President