Rick Majerus resigns from USC..

[2GOLD 0]

Majerus will remain TV analyst

By: Andy Katz

ESPN.com

 

 

Rick Majerus abruptly resigned from USC and will return to ESPN as an analyst after claiming he was overwhelmed with going back into coaching less than a year after resigning at Utah because of health reasons, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

 

However, USC athletic director Mike Garrett wasn't willing to accept Majerus' resignation until he meets with him in person.

 

"We plan to meet with Rick on Monday, and until then there is nothing we can say," Garrett said.

 

The meeting between the two was scheduled prior to the news that Majerus would resign. A USC spokesperson confirmed Saturday night that Majerus did talk on the phone to senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross but hadn't spoken to Garrett yet. Gross is leaving USC to be the athletic director at Syracuse and had been the point man in the Majerus hire. But USC's official stance is that Majerus hasn't resigned since he hasn't told them in person yet of his intentions.

 

Majerus was named head coach at USC on Wednesday with a start date of April 1, allowing interim coach Jim Saia to finish the season that started under Henry Bibby. Bibby was fired two weeks ago after four games.

 

Majerus' representation began contacting ESPN as early as Thursday, saying that he had some second thoughts about returning to coaching. Majerus is expected to make a formal announcement Monday.

 

USC officials were blindsided Saturday afternoon after the Trojans beat Western Michigan at home with the news. The administration, including athletic director Mike Garrett, wasn't ready to make a comment on the matter.

 

But the Trojans' assistants knew there had been some suspicious behavior in the past few days from Majerus.

 

Saia told ESPN.com that Majerus met with him Tuesday night and the two discussed recruiting and what Majerus needed to focus on during the next three months. But Saia said Majerus canceled a recruiting meeting with assistant coach Bob Cantu, scheduled for Thursday morning. Majerus had already assigned assistant Eric Brown to go to a junior college tournament Friday at Saddleback Community College (Calif.), which Brown attended.

 

Then, on Friday, Majerus canceled a meeting with the four returning players who would still have eligibility left next season. Majerus talked to the team for 10 minutes on Wednesday, according to the current USC staff.

 

Saia was driving home after the win Saturday, trying to save his voice, and was stunned when Cantu called him to tell him the news.

 

"It's a shock, I don't know what to say,'' said Saia, 40.

 

Majerus, 56, is expected to return to ESPN as a game analyst in some capacity.

 

Meanwhile, Saia now has a chance to get the full-time job. The Trojans are unlikely to go the route of a coach during the season and will likely let the season play out. USC alumnus Paul Westphal of Pepperdine likely becomes the top outside candidate.

 

"I didn't have a chance a few hours ago, now I have a chance,'' Saia said. "I'm not proven but now they can see if they like me and see if they want to grow with me. The job is still open.''

 

Saia is 2-1 since taking over the squad. The Trojans leave Sunday for Honolulu and the Rainbow Classic at the University of Hawaii.

 

The Trojans are moving into a new on-campus facility in 2006-07, one of the drawing cards that makes this job even more tantalizing to someone like Majerus. Majerus talked earlier in the week about USC being one of his dream jobs. He actually welcomed the fact that he wouldn't have to coach until next season, allowing himself to get healthy. USC put him on as an assistant so he could recruit under NCAA rules.

 

Saia said when they talked on Tuesday everything was about recruiting, assistant coaches and moving forward with the job.

 

"I'm really stunned by this,'' Saia said.

 

 

Man, that is just bad news for USC. Just when it finally looked like they had a coach, they now have no coach whatsoever.

 

Just utter bad news for them.

[Precious Roy 0]

I like Majerus, but man, why did he even take the job when he knew he wasn't healthy enough to handle the stress? That's a pretty shitty thing to do to USC, but I guess it's better that he's out now rather than down the line. Had to be a tough decision for him.

[The Czech Republic 0]

USC basketball isn't exactly USC football, is it.