Recently UCLA and USC hired new head basketball coaches, neither with strong local ties.
UCLA’s Steve Alford was a star player at Indiana and most recently was head coach at New Mexico.
USC’s Andy Enfield coached Florida Gulf Coast into the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and quickly moved on to the Trojans.
The new guys had something in common.
Both needed to hire an assistant coach who is well known locally, primarily for recruiting purposes.
The first victory goes to USC.
This week Enfield brought in Jason Hart, a former Inglewood High guard who went to Syracuse, then played 10 years in the NBA.
Hart became an assistant at Syracuse before becoming an assistant at Pepperdine last season.
Although Pepperdine coach Marty Wilson is losing a key member of his staff he wished Hart well.
“USC is getting a first class person, family man and a hard worker,” said Wilson. “I have much respect for him.”
It will be interesting to see how UCLA responds.
Reader Comments(0)