FIU Not Planning Changes In Athletic Dept.

MIAMI (CBSMiami/Herald) – Florida International University's football team is teetering on complete irrelevance as the worst team in college football and the men's basketball team is ineligible for the NCAA tournament due to academics.

But, according to FIU president Mark Rosenberg, the schools is not considering any change with regards to head football coach Ron Turner or athletic director Pete Garcia. When contacted by CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald about whether discussions have taken place of if getting rid of either Turner or Garcia or if it was even being considered, Rosenberg responded, "No. No. No."

Garcia's most high-profile hiring, at least in name recognition, was Isiah Thomas as head basketball coach. It was a widely panned move at the time and Thomas produced 26 wins in three years and a low APR that made the squad ineligible for postseason play this year.

FIU paid Thomas $660,000 when it fired him in April 2012, according to the Herald.

Garcia made a move this year that stunned the college football world when he fired head football coach Mario Cristobal. The former UM coach had restored the football program at FIU and even led the tea to two bowl games, but was fired after a subpar season.

Cristobal is being paid $431,386 based on his contract details after taking a job at the University of Alabama as recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach.

As for Turner, according to the Herald, if FIU fires him without cause, he would be owed $1 million by the school. Despite being the coach of the worst team in football, the Herald said it would not be for cause.

Unless Garcia violates his contract, FIU would owe him his current yearly salary, $362,527, upon firing, according to the Herald. He is also owed a retention bonus that is 20 percent of his salary, $72,505 in this case, each Oct. 15 that he's still employed, the Herald reported.

Still, Garcia has earned plenty of player ire from the Thomas hiring and firing to the firing of Cristobal. Hiring Turner, who has only coached a winning team in college three times in his ten years of coaching at the FBS level dating back to 1992, was a gamble that is not paying off right now.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Miami Herald contributed to this report.)