Thomas to give year's salary to school

MIAMI, April 15 (UPI) -- A Florida International official said Wednesday new men's basketball coach Isiah Thomas is donating his first-year's salary to the university.

Thomas was introduced Wednesday as the coach of the Golden Panthers, saying he wants to take the team "to the next level."

Florida International Athletic Director Pete Garcia said Thomas was donating his first year's pay to the school. Thomas has agreed to a five-year contract but financial terms haven't been released.

Thomas takes over the Golden Panthers from Sergio Rouco, who was reassigned Monday. Florida International was 13-20 last season and hasn't had a winning season since 1999-2000.

"I like rolling up my sleeves," said Thomas, who will coach on the collegiate level for the first time. "I like taking something from the bottom and taking it to the top. There's a lot of risk in that and there's a lot of reward in that."

Thomas didn't have much success as a coach in the NBA. He was 187-223 in five seasons coaching with Indiana and the New York Knicks.

However, he is a Hall of Fame player who led the Detroit Pistons to a pair of NBA titles and was a member of the 1991 NCAA champion Indiana Hoosiers.