USF hires Gregory to rescue struggling basketball program

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Former Dayton and Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory has accepted the challenge of rebuilding South Florida's struggling basketball program.

Gregory was hired Tuesday as the school's new coach, inheriting a team that stumbled to a 7-23 record and last-place finish in the American Athletic Conference this season.

The one-time Michigan State assistant replaces interim coach Murry Bartow, who lost 16 of 17 games after taking over for Orlando Antigua, who was fired on Jan. 13. Antigua was 23-55 in two-plus seasons.

Gregory is 248-180 over 13 seasons, including five 20-win seasons and a pair of NCAA tournament appearances in eight years at Dayton. He was 76-86 in five seasons at Georgia Tech from 2011-16,

USF athletic director Mark Harlan called Gregory a `'tireless recruiter'' and `'skilled tactician'' who cares about `'players and graduating them.''