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Ex-coach Tim Floyd meets with USC’s Pat Haden about basketball job

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Former USC basketball coach Tim Floyd said Monday night he has had a meeting with Athletic Director Pat Haden in which they discussed the Trojans basketball job opening.

Floyd said Haden had contacted him, and the three-hour meeting “went well.”

Haden, through a spokesman, said he would have no comment until the coaching search is complete.

Floyd was hired by USC in 2006 and resigned after the 2009 season when the school was deeply involved in allegations of improper conduct involving both the football and basketball team.

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While the NCAA found no violations committed personally by Floyd, the NCAA penalized USC for alleged actions by star player O.J. Mayo, who played one season for the Trojans.

Floyd said it was important his former players and coaches know that he had talked to Haden.

“I feel they should know that USC reached out, that no violations were found by the NCAA with USC basketball,” Floyd said.

“I felt like I got my name back when I got offered a number of jobs when I left USC. Pat and I talked at length,” Floyd said.

The Trojans were 85-55 under Floyd and went to the NCAA tournament in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and made it to the Sweet 16 in 2007.

A person with knowledge of the situation said at least one other interview has been conducted, with Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins, who played at Mater Dei.

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Kevin O’Neill, who replaced Floyd, was fired by Haden in January and the team has been coached by Bob Cantu, who was an assistant to Floyd.

diane.pucin@latimes.com

twitter.com/mepucin

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