Florida International University introduced Isiah Thomas as its new head coach on Wednesday and Thomas made a somewhat shocking announcement.

He’s going to coach the Panthers in 2009-10 for free.

Isiah Thomas smiles during a news conference introducing him as the new men's college basketball coach at Florida International University, Wednesday, April 15, 2009, in Miami.

Thomas will donate his first-year salary back to the athletic department. Why not? The New York Knicks still owe him about $12 million.

So how exactly did this arrangement happen?

Well, the easy answer is FIU athletic director Pete Garcia and Thomas know each other personally. But the five years of futility Thomas experienced with the Knicks, and the program’s third 20-loss season in four years, made each a viable option for the other.

Despite the underwhelming records for both, don’t be surprised if Thomas eventually succeeds. College basketball is different from the pro game in one significant way - recruiting. Players like a name, and they like the idea of playing for someone who has ties to the pros. Thomas will get some players because they want to play for him (especially if he has a strong first year), and he will get some players because of those connections.

If nothing else, it should make for an interesting experience.

Tags: college basketball, Florida International University, Isiah Thomas, Knicks, Panthers, Pete Garcia