USC: Michael Cooper adds two assistants, Laura Beeman and his son Michael Cooper II

University of Southern California head coach Michael Cooper added two assistant coaches to his staff for his second season at the school. Laura Beeman and Michael Cooper II are the new additions.

“The combination of the two really adds more youthfulness and excitement to our staff,” said Cooper.

Laura Beeman and Cooper already have experience coaching side-by-side with the Los Angeles Sparks. Beeman was an assistant under Cooper in 2008 with the Sparks while also continuing her position as head coach at Mt. San Antonio College. She earned four conference Coach of the Year awards before joining USC this year.

“I brought in coach Beeman for her expertise, because we can use her wisdom and her knowledge,” said Cooper. “She and I have shared coaching in the past and she’s familiar with the recruiting process and younger players. Our players like her and know her, and she adds a special touch for our program. She’s good at Xs and Os and zone offense and press offense and that’s one of the reasons we brought her in. Also, she’s a coach who knows my weaknesses. When a coach picks his staff, he picks people who work well together, and she knows when to step in and take the reins and run with it.”

Michael Cooper II joins USC after multiple years at the professional level and as the founder of a national youth-education company. At the pro level, he worked for the basketball operations and marketing side of the Los Angeles Sparks from 2000-02 and was promoted to scout in 2003. He was later named general manager of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, helping lead the team to a national championship in his first season.

“I brought my son Michael along because he’s been involved with basketball since he was 5,” said Cooper. “He’s played at different levels, and has a great knowledge of the game. Also, he has great knowledge as far as recruiting and identifying players and the needs of our team. He adds a wealth of understanding to our program, too.”

Beeman and Cooper II round out the USC coaching staff which also includes assistant coach Mary Wooley.

“Our players have a great relationship with the coaches coming in as well as Mary and myself and the rest of our staff,” head coach Cooper said. “The players can see the unification of this staff, and when they see us together tight and cohesive, that makes our team tight and cohesive. I think we’re going to have a tremendous season this coming year.”

USC went 19-12 overall in 2009-10.