Enfield leaves UFGC for Southern Cal

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LOS ANGELES, April 2 (UPI) -- The University of Southern California has hired Andy Enfield, who guided Florida Gulf Coast University to the NCAA Sweet 16, as head men's basketball coach.

Enfield, 43, shot to prominence this season, his second at UFGC, when the Eagles won a school record 26 games, and then -- in just their second year of NCAA Division I post-season eligibility -- knocked off second-seeded Georgetown and seventh-seeded San Diego State before losing to Florida in the South Regional tournament semifinals.

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden made the announcement in a post on the school's website Monday.

"Andy's success this season at Florida Gulf Coast was not a flash in the pan," Haden said. "He has a consistent and proven record of success for more than 15 years in college and the NBA. He is a respected teacher who develops his players on the court and sees them excel in the classroom, he is a noted shooting coach, he is a relentless recruiter and he has integrity and great character."

Haden said Enfield's "brand of basketball -- an up-tempo offense and a stingy defense -- is fun for players to play and fans to watch."

Enfield's teams -- which fans came to refer to as "Dunk City" -- were 41-28 in his two seasons at FGCU.

He previously worked as an assistant coach at Florida State, as a shooting coach for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks and as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics.

Enfield, succeeds Kevin O'Neill, who was fired in February before the team completed a disappointing 14-18 regular season and did not get past the first round of the Pac-12 tournament.

Citing sources within USC, the Los Angeles Times said Enfield signed a six-year deal worth more than $1 million per year. He was making $157,000 at Florida Gulf Coast.