USC Athletic Director Pat Haden mentions women’s basketball coach Michael Cooper in interview

The Los Angeles Times conducted a wide-ranging interview with USC Athletic Director Pat Haden that focused mostly on the school’s football program. However, reporter Gary Klein did ask Haden about women’s basketball and the future of head coach, Lakers legend Michael Cooper:

Although the USC men’s team last made the NCAA tournament in 2009, the women’s team has not qualified since 2006. Fourth-year Coach Michael Cooper, a former Lakers star and NBA and WNBA coach, began the season with a 61-37 record at USC. The Trojans are 7-10 this season and 4-2 in the Pac-12.

Asked if Cooper must make the NCAA tournament, Haden says, “I’m not going to say that.”

USC is currently in sixth place in the Pac-12. They host Arizona State (10-8, 2-4 Pac-12, 9th place) on Friday.