USC Names Eric Musselman Its New Men’s Basketball Coach

Introduction

The University of Southern California (USC) has announced the appointment of Eric Musselman as the new head coach of its men’s basketball program. Musselman, who spent the last five seasons as head coach at the University of Arkansas, replaces Andy Enfield, who was fired in March after 13 seasons with the Trojans.

Background

Musselman has a long and successful coaching career at both the collegiate and professional levels. He began his head coaching career at Long Beach State University in 1999 and later coached the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings in the NBA. He returned to college coaching in 2014 when he was hired by the University of Nevada. In five seasons with the Wolf Pack, he led the team to four NCAA Tournament appearances and a Sweet 16 berth in 2018.

Accomplishments at Arkansas

Musselman took over a struggling Arkansas program in 2019 and quickly turned things around. In his first season, the Razorbacks finished 20-12 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. In the following three seasons, Arkansas went 25-7, 25-6, and 28-9, winning the Southeastern Conference regular season championship in 2022 and the SEC tournament championship in 2023. The Razorbacks also reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022 under Musselman’s leadership.

Quote from USC Athletic Director

“We are thrilled to welcome Eric Musselman to the Trojan Family,” said USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn. “Eric is a proven winner with a track record of success both on and off the court. We believe he is the perfect fit to lead our men’s basketball program to new heights.”

Expectations and Future Outlook

Musselman inherits a USC program that has struggled in recent years. The Trojans have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021 and have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2017. Musselman will be tasked with rebuilding the program and restoring USC to its status as a perennial contender in the Pac-12 Conference and nationally.

Musselman’s hiring has been met with optimism and excitement from Trojan fans and expectations are high for his arrival in Los Angeles. The 60-year-old coach is known for his up-tempo style of play and his ability to develop players into NBA prospects. He will have the resources and support at USC to build a successful program and will be looking to make the Trojans a force in college basketball once again.