The location and the timing caught everyone by surprise Wednesday when news broke that Sutton was coming out of retirement to immediately take over at the University of San Francisco.

But anyone who truly knows Sutton, knew he wasn't permanently retiring when he announced in May 2006 that he was leaving an Oklahoma State program he built into a perennial national power.

Sutton never attempted to hide his strong desire to record the two victories he needed to become only the fifth coach to win 800 Division I games.

He acknowledged it again last spring when he indicated he'd have a serious interest in replacing his son at Oral Roberts University. That appeared a strong possibility until Scott Sutton rejected an offer from Wichita State.

So timing was the biggest obstacle for the 71-year-old Eddie Sutton. Would another school give him the opportunity to extend a legendary coaching career that started at Tulsa Central High School in 1959?

The odds seemed slimmer, he revealed Wednesday night, after he turned down a Division I job this past offseason for unspecified reasons.

Eddie Sutton was aware it would probably take some unusual circumstance for his return. And that's what happened when USF athletic director Debra Gore-Mann offered him the interim job, which opened when Jessie Evans' requested for a leave of absence.

Eddie Sutton has conquered a lot of challenges in a career that spanned nearly five decades, with stops on the high school, junior college and major college levels.

But perhaps none was as daunting as the one he's taken on with USF. About 24 hours after he meets his new team for the first time on Thursday, he will lead the Dons in a Friday contest at Weber State.

He inherits a club that has lost five of its last six and stands 4-8 overall. It's also a program that already has one player suspended by the NCAA, and reportedly could be facing other sanctions.

"It all happened so fast," he said about the job offer from Gore-Mann. "She really felt like someone with my reputation and record could come in and give these kids some discipline, and maybe get things turned around."

So why would did he accept the job? Ed die Sutton didn't sugarcoat the logic behind his decision.

"I want to reach 800 wins," he said, after compiling a 798-315 Division I record with stops at Creighton, Arkansas, Kentucky and OSU. "So, from a selfish standpoint, that's why I decided I'm going back."

Good for him. Someone with Sutton's legacy of outstanding service in teaching and winning at four major-college programs has earned the right to be selfish.

Sutton also deserves a second chance. He now has an opportunity to go out on his terms, instead of having an alcohol-related car accident be the final memory of a sparkling career that included being the first coach to take four different schools to the NCAA Tournament.

"Nobody loves basketball more than me," he said. "I love the game, and I love to teach it."

And for one night last week, nobody hated the game more than Sutton did during the All-College Classic in Oklahoma City.

Eddie Sutton's retirement pain was obvious as he watched his two sons compete against each other. Scott Sutton and ORU defeated Sean Sutton and OSU, as their father watched uncomfortably from the front row.

And now, Eddie Sutton will be back in the only front-row seat he's ever wanted in basketball.

"It will be a challenge," he said. "My goal is to try and go in there and maybe we can get them to play .500 ball. I don't know if that's possible."

USF has 17 regular-season games remaining, and at least one contest in the West Coast Conference Tournament. While it's not the Big 12 Conference, the WCC is a solid hoops league that includes excellent programs like Gonzaga.

So what happens if Eddie Sutton works his turnaround magic one more time? Could he remove the interim title and leave his heart in San Francisco for a few more seasons?

"Right now, I've just committed to them through this year," he said. "But I tell you one thing -- I'm going to be in one of the greatest cities in America, and I'm excited be coaching again."

A great city and a great coach. Sounds like a match made in hoops heaven.