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Tag: Tubby Smith

  • Steve Masiello Loses South Florida Deal

    Steve Masiello Loses South Florida Deal

    After finding “previously undetected discrepancy in his background check,” University of South Florida officials were prompted to end a contract with Manhattan coach Steve Masiello late Tuesday night. USF had paid a Texas-based search firm called Eastman & Beaudine $60,000 to find a replacement for coach Stan Heath, and the company found that Masiello had falsified a credential on his résumé.

    Masiello had claimed he’d graduated from Kentucky in 2000, but in actuality, he doesn’t have a degree. It was reported that Masiello had actually signed a 5-year contract with the USF Bulls worth at least $5 million, early Tuesday. Masiello had previously worked as an assistant under coach Rick Pitino at Louisville, and received praise from Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich upon the news of his Florida hire.

    While at Manhattan, Masiello led the team to its first NCAA tournament since 2004:

    Jurich had told the Tampa Tribune that “Stevie can do whatever he wants to. He’s just terrific. He’s a rising star in this business.” Then Masiello’s background check came in.

    Perplexed fans took to Twitter:

    As of writing, Masiello hasn’t yet formally resigned from Manhattan, and is presently on leave. South Florida is back in the hunt for Coach Heath’s permanent replacement.

    Louisville Coach Rick Pitino told ESPN, “If it’s accurate, I’m shocked by it. I had no idea. I left the previous year, and he was on track to graduate.” Louisville AD Jurich added, “I knew Rick was comfortable with him. He played for Rick, and Rick knew all about his background.” It’s now clear how the formality of completing a communications degree would affect one’s basketball coaching ability.

    Masiello played for Kentucky as a walk-on under coaches Pitino and Tubby Smith from 1996 to 2000.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tubby Smith Fired From Minnesota Basketball

    College basketball coach Tubby Smith coached the 11-seeded University of Minnesota men’s basketball team past six-seeded UCLA in the second round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament, but the team lost to third-seed Florida in the next round. Evidently, a tournament showing and a winning record are not enough to guarantee a coaching position in the NCAA these days.

    The University of Minnesota today announced that Smith has been ousted from his coaching job just one day after the loss to Florida.

    “Tubby has had a long and distinguished career and we feel it’s time for a fresh set of eyes for our student-athletes and our program in general,” said Norwood Teague, University of Minnesota athletics director.

    Smith has been the coach of Minnesota’s basketball team since 2007. In his time with the program, Smith coached the team to a 124-81 record and three NCAA tournament appearances. This week’s third-round loss was the team’s best NCAA tournament showing under Smith’s coaching.

    Before taking the coaching position at Minnesota, Smith coached the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team. He had been an assistant coach for the team under coach Rick Pitino, who is currently coaching the number-one seeded University of Louisville men’s basketball team into the Sweet Sixteen

    “I want to thank the University of Minnesota and the people of Minnesota for giving me the opportunity to lead the Golden Gopher basketball program for six years,” said Smith. “Our staff did things the right way and will leave knowing that the program is in far better shape than when we arrived. The people of the State of Minnesota embraced Donna and me from the beginning and we will always be grateful.”