George Mason Final 4 star hired as coach

FAIRFAX, Va.– Tony Skinn, who assisted lead 11th-seeded George Mason to the Final 4 as a player in 2006, was hired Thursday as the men’s basketball coach at the school.Skinn replaces Kim

English, who left George Mason for Providence after Ed Cooley left Providence for Georgetown.”Tony Skinn is the best male for this

minute in Mason’s basketball program,”university president Gregory Washington stated in a declaration.”His training style will galvanize our student-athletes and his connection to our finest hour on the court makes certain to amaze our alumni and fans. “Editor’s Picks

Skinn was a beginning guard for the Patriots 17 years earlier when they picked up a series of unexpected wins– including versus UConn in the regional last in Washington, about 20 miles from school– to make the semifinals at the NCAA tournament.George Mason’s coach at the time, Jim Larrañaga, is now at Miami and has the Hurricanes in this year’s Last Four.Skinn was most just recently an assistant coach at Maryland. He also has operated at Ohio State, Seton Hall and Louisiana Tech.”It’s an unbelievable sensation to step back on campus,”Skinn stated.”I have actually had some of my biggest memories here and I’m anticipating making new ones with our fans and our neighborhood.”