Kaplowitz: Health issues may have factored into Tim Floyd’s retirement

Tim Floyd’s bombshell retirement announcement Monday night could be due to serious health issues, said Steve Kaplowitz with 600 ESPN Radio.

“Floyd’s health is a major concern right now. The man is 63 years old. He does have a family. He has grandkids that he wants to spend time with,” Kaplowitz said, “The fact is, right now, if he has some serious health issues, he’s not going to risk coaching in a pressure filled job when he’s not winning and there’s a lot of heat on him … I don’t blame him for that.”

Floyd announced his retirement in a post game news conference, just minutes after the Miners lost to Lamar. The announcement came the same day UTEP introduced Jim Senter as the school’s new athletics director.

“I really don’t think the team’s struggles had anything to do with this,” Kaplowitz added, “I don’t think Jim Senter being named director of athletics had any thing to do with this.”

Floyd told ABC-7 it was simply time to “pass the torch” and acknowledged he didn’t even meet with Senter Monday. Floyd further stated, that with a new athletic director on board, it was a good time for a transition.

ABC-7 spoke with several people close to the program and all dismissed the idea Senter might have asked Floyd to resign.