With Mother Ailing, Thomas Will Coach FIU Opener

Florida International head basketball coach Isiah Thomas, center, yells from the bench during an...

Florida International head basketball coach Isiah Thomas, center, yells from the bench during an exhibition game against Northwood, as associate head coach Anthony Anderson, left, and assistant coach William Eddie, right, look on in Miami, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. Thomas needs to make a winner of little-known Florida International and revive his own career in the process. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

(AP)

Isiah Thomas will coach Florida International in its opener Monday night against No. 6 North Carolina, hours after his 86-year-old mother had open-heart surgery.

Thomas spent Sunday in Chicago with his mother, Mary. He arrived in Chapel Hill early Monday, and told The Associated Press he expects to return to Chicago on Tuesday.

"It's tough right now," Thomas said by telephone.

The Hall of Famer was at shootaround with the Golden Panthers on Monday, and spent the afternoon resting and preparing in the team hotel. He was hired by FIU in April.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.