Florida International has hired NBA great Isiah Thomas as the University’s basketball coach. The former NBA NVP will replace Sergio Rouco, who has been reassigned by the athletic department last Monday.

“Coming back to the college game has always been a dream of mine,” said Thomas, who won an NCAA title as a player for Indiana. He last coached for the New York Knicks during the 2007-2008, which was one of the most dismal outings of the franchise. He will now inherit a Sun Belt Conference program that has not had a winning season since 1999. 

In other news, Connecticut’s Hasheem Thabeet has announced that he will enter the NBA draft, foregoing his last year of college eligibility.   

The 7-foot-3 center said he made the decision after talking to his family, friends, and coach—Jim Calhoun. Connecticut reps say that Thabeet is a shoe-in for one of the top three picks in this year’s NBA draft.