MIAMI, April 6 (UPI) -- Former NBA player and coach Isiah Thomas was fired Friday as men's basketball coach at Florida International University.
Thomas coached the Golden Panthers for three seasons, building a 26-65 record. FIU was 8-21 this past season.
"We want to thank Isiah Thomas for his three years here at FIU," Athletic Director Pete Garcia said in a statement. "However, we have decided to take the program in a different direction."
Thomas helped Indiana to the NCAA Tournament title in 1981 before an NBA career in which he won two championships and was selected to the All-Star team 12 times.
He coached five seasons in the NBA -- three at Indiana and two at the New York Knicks -- ending with a 187-223 record.
Thomas was hired as the FIU coach in April 2009 and donated his first year's salary back to the school.
