The teleconference began and the questions started coming and all anybody wanted to know was why he was doing it. So Eddie Sutton addressed the reasons, one by one. And each of the obvious explanations surfaced quickly, as expected.

Does he want that 800th win?

Eddie Sutton was riding high off two successful Tournaments before abruptly quitting in 2006. (US Presswire)

Does he yearn to end on his own terms?

Absolutely.

Does he like San Francisco?

More than you know.

But the reality is that Sutton's return to coaching via USF is simpler than all that. Sure, those things matter. A lot, in fact. But the bottom line is that Sutton is a basketball coach who loves coaching basketball. So while he harvests some self-described "selfish" motivations, what this mostly comes down to is his desire to still get in the gym, to still draw plays, to still throw five student-athletes on a floor and see if they can execute what he's taught them.

"I love the game of basketball," Sutton said. "There's nobody that coached it or played it that loved it as much as I do."

Which is why Sutton was open to this nutty plan when it presented itself.

San Francisco was going to need somebody to replace Jessie Evans, and athletic director Debra Gore-Mann leaned on ChampSearch, a California-based firm created by David and Dana Pump that specializes in helping colleges land coaches. Come to find out, the well-connected twins -- who previously assisted Tennessee in its pursuit of Bruce Pearl, Nebraska in its pursuit of Doc Sadler and Ole Miss in its pursuit of Andy Kennedy -- happened to have a long-standing relationship with Sutton, who happened to have a deep-rooted desire to return to the sidelines.

Then one thing led to another.

Then a phone call led to a proposition.

And just like that a 71-year-old legend with 798 career wins was preparing to board a flight to Salt Lake City so he could meet the USF players Thursday afternoon before coaching them against Weber State on Friday night. Despite financial security, Sutton opted to leave his Oklahoma home where he is surrounded by his children and their children, settle in the Bay Area and take control of a team that has already lost twice as many games as it's won.

He doesn't know if he'll coach next season.

He doesn't know whether things will work out.

But what Sutton does know is that he'll be back on the sidelines before the end of the week -- clapping, pointing and (of course) scowling to no one in particular. From the sound of it, that's what is most important, the opportunity to scratch an itch while also notching his 800th victory before ultimately leaving on his own terms rather than after an embarrassing drunken-driving charge stemming from a midseason car accident.

"He didn't like the way things ended (at Oklahoma State)," said Sean Sutton, Eddie's son and successor at OSU. "So this is going to be a good deal for him."

And a good deal for USF, I'm guessing, because while it's simple to look at Sutton's age and dismiss him as a man who doesn't know when to walk away it should be noted that he wasn't obviously slipping professionally when he retired after the 2005-06 season. Remember, Sutton was only two years removed from a Final Four and one year removed from a Sweet 16 before encountering back problems that led to him, as he put it, succumbing to "temptation" and buying "a bottle."

The car accident followed.

The humbling press conference came next.

But through it all Sutton never lost the desire to coach, to stand in a gym and instruct. So this will, if nothing else, provide an opportunity to do just that again. And with any luck the 800th victory will follow and allow Sutton to exit in an elite class with his head held high, scowl and all.

"I think we can get this team where it is competitive," Sutton said. "Hopefully it'll start Friday night."