Tim Floyd & Don Haskins

Tim Floyd is the 18th men’s basketball coach at UTEP. His first job in the world of basketball was as an assistant for Hall of Famer Don Haskins from 1977 to 1986. However, of the previous 17 UTEP coaches, only one is known as thee coach over at Texas Western and UTEP and that is the “Bear” Don Haskins.

“He taught the game the right way,” SMU and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown said. “This place has great tradition and he built that, and I got pretty lucky when I got to coach Tony Davis and compete against Tim Hardaway; those are some pretty special players that came from this program.”

Recently Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown was in town to coach his SMU Mustangs against the Miners, and was was impressed at the job Floyd has done in only a few years in El Paso.

“I love coach Floyd,” Brown explained. “His values are a lot like coach Haskins, you got to play hard, share the ball, and you have to defend.”

But how does Floyd compare to the “Bear?” After their first two seasons on the job Floyd had a record of 40-27. Don Haskins record through two years was 37-13. Any other similarities?

“They’re great teachers and people,” Brown said. “Kids play for them which is simple, because they’re both really demanding.”

Don Haskins still to this day remains the only coach to lead a team from the state of Texas to national championship in Division One basketball, but fans and basketball minds think Tim Floyd may be able to do what only Don Haskins has done. That, is win the big one.