After 12 seasons as an assistant coach at USC, Bob Cantu is expected to join the coaching staff at the University of Texas El-Paso (UTEP) today. He will be in an assistant coach role under former USC head coach Tim Floyd, who he worked under for four years at USC.

“Nothing is official, but we have talked at length and it would be great to work together again,” Cantu told Galen Central Monday night. Under Texas state law, the job posting for UTEP’s position must be up for two weeks before being filled, which is why Cantu must wait until later today to make his move official.

Cantu was known at USC for his recruiting prowess, helping recruit the Trojans’ 2007 class that included O.J. Mayo and Davon Jefferson. At UTEP, he hopes to repeat that success under Floyd, who was 86-50 as USC’s head coach before resigning in 2009.

“It would be a smooth transition, since I know Coach Floyd’s system,” Cantu said. “With our west coast ties, we will be able to compete with the best for players.”

Cantu took over as USC’s interim head coach after Kevin O’Neill was fired last January, and compiled a 7-8 record that included a win at UCLA and an 89-78 victory over then-No. 11 Arizona. He was not retained on the staff of new head coach Andy Enfield. Galen Central will have more details as the move becomes official.

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