Sports

USC hires Arkansas’ Eric Musselman as new men’s basketball coach

By Todd Gill ·
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman against Alcorn State during an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Eric Musselman is leaving Fayetteville for Los Angeles.

The University of Southern California on Thursday announced the hiring of Musselman as the school’s new head men’s basketball coach.

SUBSCRIBE: Get our free newsletter!

Musselman will replace Andy Enfield, who left USC for the same job at Southern Methodist University on Monday.

The 59-year-old Musselman is expected to be announced at a news conference scheduled for Friday.

Musselman has spent the last five years at Arkansas, where he led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Elite Eight twice and the Sweet 16 once. His record was 111-59 at Arkansas.

“My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this incredible opportunity at USC,” Musselman said in a statement. “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.”

USC will move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten next season.

Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek said he was informed Thursday about Musselman’s decision.

“I am appreciative of his work at the University of Arkansas,” said Yurachek in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “I wish Eric, Danyelle and their family the best as they pursue their next chapter.”

Yurachek said the search for a new coach has already begun.

“I am confident we will identify a leader for our program that will build on the rich tradition of Razorback basketball and provide a nationally competitive program for our university, our state and passionate Razorback fans everywhere,” said Yurachek.

Musselman was the head men’s basketball coach at Nevada from 2016-19, where he won three Mountain West regular-season titles and made three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Before that, Musselman was an assistant at LSU and Arizona State. He also was head coach of the NBA G-League Los Angeles D-Fenders and Reno Bighorns and the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors. He has also serves as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Minnesota Timberwolves.