Eric Musselman Named USC Men’s Basketball Head Coach

Males’s Basketball | April 04, 2024

Eric Musselman has been named the USC Males’s Basketball Head Coach, Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen introduced as we speak (April 4). Musselman might be formally launched to the USC Household and members of the media on Friday, April fifth at 10:30 am within the Centofante Corridor of Fame at Galen Heart.

“I’m past excited to welcome Eric, Danyelle and their unbelievable household to USC,” mentioned Cohen. “We had been decided to seek out the very best coach to champion the event of our student-athletes and elevate our males’s basketball program. His observe report of constructing successful applications and his unwavering dedication to a tradition of excellence make him the right match for USC. Eric shows coronary heart, boldness, resiliency, and the whole lot that it means to be a Trojan. He evokes togetherness and can assist construct and develop this system’s connectivity inside the Trojan group. As we transfer to the Large Ten and enter a brand new chapter for USC Males’s Basketball, there isn’t any higher match than Eric Musselman to launch our program to new heights.”

Musselman involves Los Angeles after a profitable thirty-year profession as a school, skilled and worldwide head and assistant coach. Most lately, in 5 seasons as the pinnacle coach on the College of Arkansas, Musselman led the Razorbacks to a few NCAA Tournaments, together with two Elite Eight runs and three Candy Sixteen berths in his 5 seasons. Arkansas was ranked as excessive as No. 6 (USA At this time Coaches Ballot) throughout his tenure. He accomplished his tenure in Fayetteville with a 111-59 general report and had a minimum of one participant chosen in every of the final 5 NBA Drafts, the third-best energetic streak amongst NCAA coaches. 

“My household and I could not be extra excited for this unbelievable alternative at USC,” mentioned Musselman. “I’m grateful to President Folt and Jen Cohen for the prospect to guide the lads’s basketball program at such a world-class college with a wealthy custom of success. We might be dedicated to the event of our student-athletes and upholding the values that make the Trojan Household so particular. We’ll hit the bottom operating and work tirelessly to make our nice alumni, followers and all of Los Angeles proud.”

Previous to Arkansas, Musselman was the pinnacle coach on the College of Nevada (2016-19), main the Wolf Pack to a few Mountain West Convention common season championships in every of his final three seasons. The Wolf Pack gained the CBI (Faculty Basketball Invitational) postseason event in his first yr as head coach whereas including a Mountain West event title in 2017 to safe this system’s first NCAA Match look since 2007. He then led Nevada to at-large berths to the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Match as a seventh seed in every season, with the Wolf Pack reaching as excessive as No. 5 in a nationwide ballot in 2018-19. Nevada student-athlete Caleb Martin was chosen as an All-American in each 2018 and 2019. 

“I wish to welcome Coach Musselman and his household to Los Angeles for one of the vital anticipated eras within the historical past of USC athletics,” mentioned USC President Carol Folt. “Throughout my dialog with Eric, it was clear he’ll put college students first, form future leaders, and win the suitable approach.”

Musselman was an assistant coach at LSU and Arizona State, following stints as the pinnacle coach of the NBA G-League Los Angeles D-Fenders and Reno Bighorns and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. He was additionally an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves. He labored in america Basketball League and the Continental Basketball League and on the worldwide entrance, Musselman has coached with america, Dominican Republic and Venezuelan nationwide groups.

For his teaching accomplishments, Musselman was named the Mountain West Coach of the 12 months (2018), the NBA D-League Coach of the 12 months (2012), america Basketball League Coach of the 12 months (1996) and was a semifinalist for school basketball’s nationwide Naismith Coach of the 12 months Award (2021) and was the runner-up within the NBA Coach of the 12 months award voting (2003). 

A local of Ohio and Minnesota, he earned his Bachelor’s Diploma from the College of San Diego the place he performed basketball, throughout which period the Toreros performed in two NCAA Tournaments and Musselman was named to the West Coast Convention All-Tutorial workforce thrice. Together with his education in San Diego and training within the Bay Space, Musselman brings robust California ties to the place.

Musselman and his spouse, Danyelle, have a daughter, Mariah, and Musselman has two sons, Matthew and Michael.

Musselman’s hiring is contingent upon his completion of a profitable College background screening.

 

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