Removed, then quickly reinstated


He was gone in an instant. And then, almost as quickly, he was back.

Four days after Stan Holt, a team manager for the USC men’s basketball team, was fired, head coach Kevin O’Neill decided to recant his decision and give Holt a second chance.

The strangest aspect of this story may not be O’ Neill’s rash decision-making regarding Holt’s position with the team. Instead, the most noteworthy detail may deal with the reason why Holt lost his job in the first place.

The graduate student was removed from the bench Jan. 30 after a team loss at Oregon. He received a technical foul with four minutes and 35 seconds left in the game. At the time, the Trojans were down 49-47. Oregon made both free throws following the call and went on a 15-2 run, denying the Trojans any chance of coming away with a victory.

USC lost the game 67-57. It was the team’s fifth loss in seven games.

O’Neill said it was the first time he had ever heard of a manager getting a technical.

He announced his decision to fire Holt immediately following the Oregon game.

Holt was reportedly yelling obscenities at the referee. He apologized for his actions but claimed he did not use any profanity. O’Neill said he had not had problems with Holt in the past.

Besides serving as a manager for the basketball team, Holt has also worked with the Trojan football team.