Southern California hired Arkansas’ Eric Musselman as its next head coach on Thursday.
Terms of the contract were not yet revealed. The job opening was created when Andy Enfield left USC to take the same role at SMU last week.
Musselman, 59, joins USC ahead of its move to the Big Ten Conference later this year.
“Eric displays heart, boldness, resiliency and everything that it means to be a Trojan,” USC athletic director Jennifer Cohen said in a statement. “He inspires togetherness and will help build and grow the program’s connectivity within the Trojan community. As we move to the Big Ten and enter a new chapter for USC Men’s Basketball, there is no better fit than Eric Musselman to launch our program to new heights.”
Musselman took over at Arkansas in 2019 and guided the Razorbacks to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 2021-23. They went to two Elite Eights followed by a Sweet 16 before finishing 16-17 (6-12 SEC) in 2023-24.
Musselman spent much of his coaching career on the West Coast, including head-coaching roles with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors (2002-04) and Sacramento Kings (2006-07). He entered the college ranks in 2012 as an assistant at Arizona State, and, as the head coach of Nevada, he took the Wolf Pack to three NCAA Tournaments in four years, including a Sweet 16.
He is 221-93 as a college head coach over nine seasons between Nevada and Arkansas.
“My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this incredible opportunity at USC,” Musselman said in a statement. “I am grateful to President (Carol) Folt and Jen Cohen for the chance to lead the men’s basketball program at such a world-class university with a rich tradition of success. We will be committed to the development of our student-athletes and upholding the values that make the Trojan Family so special. We will hit the ground running and work tirelessly to make our great alumni, fans and all of Los Angeles proud.”
–Field Level Media
