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Experienced coach Sergio Rouco joins USF coaching staff

South Florida Antigua Basketball

Univ. of South Florida’s new head men’s basketball coach Orlando Antigua (center) is congratulated by USF’s head football coach Willie Taggart and USF President Judy Genshaft Tuesday after a press conference to introduce Antigua. (AP Photo, Andy Jones/Tampa Tribune). OUTS: ST. Petersburg (Tampa Bay Times); Lakeland; Bradenton; Sarasota, Winter Haven; MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT; WTSP CH 10 OUT; WFTS CH 28 OUT; WTVT CH 13 OUT; BAYNEWS 9; Online OUT.

AP

While new USF head coach Orlando Antigua has plenty of experience as an assistant, the 2014-15 season will be his first when it comes to running a college program. And when that’s the case, an assistant with head coaching experience at the Division I level can be invaluable. On Wednesday it was announced that Antigua has hired former FIU head coach Sergio Rouco, thus filling out his coaching staff.

Rouco, who was a member of Andy Kennedy’s staff at Ole Miss, has more than two decades of coaching experience and is a native of Florida (Miami). Rouco served as head coach at FIU from 2006-09, and he’ll be joining Oliver Antigua and Rod Strickland on the USF coaching staff.

“Sergio has over 25 years of coaching experience at the Division I level,” Orlando Antigua said in the release. “He has great recruiting connections not just in the state of Florida, but around the world, which will greatly benefit our program.”

The 2013-14 season was a tough one for USF, as they won just 12 games and finished the season on a nine-game losing streak. The absence of starting point guard Anthony Collins, who played in just eight games due to a knee injury, didn’t help matters but he’ll be back to lead the way for the Bulls.

USF has also added five newcomers, with incoming freshman guard Troy Holston the most highly regarded of the group.

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