Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigns as head coach of Southern California

After getting ousted in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament with a 71-58 loss to California, USC announced that head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigned.

“I absolutely love USC and I always want what is best for this university,” said Cooper-Dyke. “What is best right now is that I step aside as the women’s basketball coach and let someone else lead this team.

“I appreciate the opportunity I was given to coach at my alma mater, a university that has meant so much to me since my days as a student-athlete. I wish we had more success, but I am thankful for the effort given by the players, coaches and support staff and am fortunate to have worked alongside them. I also want to thank our fans for their loyal support. I will always love USC and will be cheering on the Women of Troy in the future as they accomplish great things.”

The Trojans finished the 2016-17 season 14-16 overall and  5-13 inPac-12 play, tied for ninth place. Overall, Cooper-Dyke’s record at USC was 70-57 (2014-17) after four seasons.

Cooper-Dyke led USC to the  NCAA Tournament in her first season with a 22-13 record. The team went 15-15 in 2015 (placing seventh place in league play) and 19-13 in 2016 (finishing eighth in the Pac-12).

“We thank Cynthia for her dedication, hard work and service, and we wish her the very best,” said USC athletic director Lynn Swann. “She is a great Trojan and will always be a valued member of the Trojan Family.

“The USC women’s basketball program has a tradition built on national championships, great players and outstanding coaches. We look forward to bringing in a coach who will add to that legacy, one who will move our program forward while doing so in one of the world’s greatest cities, at one of the country’s finest academic institutions and in the nation’s premier women’s basketball conference.”