TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Leonard Hamilton, an out-of-work coach with a reputation for turning around moribund programs, signed a five-year contract Tuesday to revive Florida State.

		Florida State made a great choice in naming Leonard Hamilton head coach. He's the perfect hire for the Seminoles. Give AD Dave Hart lots of credit for making it happen. Florida State wants to chase the goal of a national championship; the school wants to show that basketball is vital to the athletic program. This is a school that's been known for its football success, baby! More...

Hamilton has not coached since leaving the NBA's Washington Wizards last year. The former Miami coach replaces Steve Robinson, fired eight days ago after four consecutive losing seasons.

"I've always enjoy those programs that needed a little fixing up," Hamilton said at a news conference.

Hamilton, also credited with rebuilding Oklahoma State, signed a deal that will pay him a minimum of $775,000 and is loaded with bonuses for winning the Atlantic Coast Conference, making the NCAA Tournament and graduating a certain number of players.

"He was our target," Florida State athletic director Dave Hart Jr. said. "He's a veteran head coach who has been through the wars, who has fallen down and got back up, who has built programs and then had a lot of success."

Hamilton, 53, was twice named Big East coach of the year while at Miami where his teams were known for their intensity and stifling defenses. He left behind a solid recruiting class for successor Perry Clark, including the nucleus of this season's NCAA Tournament team.

Although Hamilton's career collegiate coaching record is a modest 200-210 in 14 years, he was 64-28 in the last three seasons at Miami where he led the Hurricanes to three straight NCAA appearances and led the team to the Sweet 16 in 2000. He guided the Hurricanes to a 48-22 record in Big East competition in his final four years.

Florida State was just 46-72 the past four years, including a 25-55 record against ACC opponents.

"We will get this done as fast as we possibly can," Hamilton said. "In the game of sports it's 'what have you done for me lately' ... I fully understand that."

In 2000, then-Wizards president Michael Jordan lured Hamilton to the professional ranks. Hamilton resigned after one season after the Wizards completed a 19-63 season.

A native of Gastonia, N.C., Hamilton played at Tennesee-Martin and spent a dozen years as an assistant coach at Kentucky under Joe B. Hall before taking the job at Oklahoma State in 1986.