tim floyd

Tim Floyd, who took USC's basketball program new heights, was interviewing for the Arizona coaching job Wednesday, a source familiar with the situation said.The source, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak about the situation, said that Floyd was meeting with Arizona Athletic Director Jim Livengood on Wednesday.

Floyd could not be reached for comment and did not respond to a text message.Arizona asked permission to speak with Floyd on Tuesday. At the team banquet that night, Floyd gave an impassioned speech to players about staying at USC and not jumping to the NBA. He then left to interview at Arizona on Wednesday.Floyd, 55, spent the last four seasons at USC, compiling an 85-50 record. The Trojans reached the NCAA tournament the past three seasons, a first in the program's history, and reached the Sweet 16 in 2007.
USC won the Pacific 10 Conference tournament championship and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament this season.Floyd built a large part of that success on transient players, with O.J. Mayo and Davon Jefferson leaving for the NBA after one season at USC. Freshman DeMar DeRozan, a key player on a USC team that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament this season, may declare for the NBA draft.

Floyd would replace Russ Pennell, who spent one season as the Wildcats' coach after Lute Olson stepped down for health reasons last fall. Arizona reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament this season.Under Olson, Arizona became a national power and has reached the NCAA tournament 25 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak.Floyd previously coached in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls in 1999-2002 and the New Orleans Hornets in 2004. He was also the head coach at Iowa State, New Orleans and Idaho.