USC women’s basketball head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke announced today (March 3) that she has resigned after four seasons guiding the Women of Troy.

“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.”

Cooper-Dyke posted a 70-56 record in her tenure (2014-17) as USC’s head coach. The Women of Troy were 14-16 overall in the just-completed 2017 season, including a season-ending 71-58 loss to California in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, and they finished in a 4-way tie for ninth place in the Pac-12 with a 5-13 record.

After leading USC to the Pac-12 Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in her debut 2014 season while going 22-13, Cooper-Dyke’s Trojan squads 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.”

As a player, Cooper-Dyke led USC to a pair of NCAA championships, then won an Olympic gold medal and four WNBA titles. She previously was head coach with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and collegiately at Prairie View A&M, UNC Wilmington and Texas Southern.

USC will conduct a national search for Cooper-Dyke’s successor.

http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/030317aaa.html

Photo Courtesy USC Athletics

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