Eric Musselman leaving Arkansas for West Coast coaching job
Eric Musselman is leaving Arkansas for the West Coast for a high-major job offer.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and others, Musselman is expected to leave the Razorbacks for the head coaching job at USC. It was reported earlier this week that Musselman would interview for the job with the Trojans making the move to the Big Ten in the 2024-25 season.
According to SI’s Pat Forde, Musselman had been actively looking for a new job “for a while.” His name had been linked as one to watch for the Louisville vacancy, but he instead winds up out west.
NEWS: USC is expected to hire Arkansas’ Eric Musselman as its next head coach, sources told me and @PeteThamel. In five seasons, Musselman has guided the Razorbacks to two Elite Eights and a Sweet 16. pic.twitter.com/e1INKE8kvT
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 4, 2024
Muss was looking for a new job for a while. Lands in L.A. https://t.co/Ekx3TnH3cq
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) April 4, 2024
USC has already confirmed the move with Musselman joining the Trojans at a key juncture for the program:
OFFICIAL: The Muss Bus is rolling into USC!@EricPMusselman is our new head coach!! pic.twitter.com/vG2i63b2du
— USC Men’s Basketball (@USC_Hoops) April 4, 2024
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Reasons behind the move
Musselman had been at Arkansas for the past 5 seasons with varying levels of success, but things had tailed off a bit the past 2 years. Despite a win over Kansas to reach the Sweet 16 a year ago, Arkansas had finished below .500 in the SEC in back-to-back seasons.
At this juncture, he was unlikely to be on an immediate hot seat, but it did provide a crossroads for his time in Fayetteville. Musselman also bounced around quite a bit in his coaching journey, lending to the idea that he might be on the move again before long.
As for landing in Los Angeles, his connection to California is well-known. He shared a nice moment with his mother after Arkansas’ Sweet 16 victory in 2022, a game that was played in San Francisco.
Kristine Musselman Platt, Eric’s mother, lives in San Diego, and the coach grew up there and continues to follow his beloved San Diego Padres from afar. In addition to playing at San Diego in the 1980s, Musselman spent time coaching for the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and for the G League’s LA D-Fenders affiliate.
Now, Musselman takes over the Trojans on the eve of a move to the Big Ten. USC could have a tough time adjusting to life in the new-look B1G, but it will be interesting to see if Musselman can get things clicking quickly.
No wonder Musselman had ZERO passion for his Hawgs team effort this year, he quit and his players knew it…glad it’s official now. Take that quitters attitude with you to USCwest…see ya
Calling BS to that. His team had no fight until it was too late. Talent can only take you so far.
LeghumperU is absolutely correct. We’ve been hearing rumors of Muss trying to leave since before the season began. The team knew and that’s why almost all of them jumped ship the moment the season ended
Can’t say leaving wasn’t a no-brainer though.
yeah this seems like a good move for both parties. he gets to go home and join the left coast libbers and arkansas gets to hire a new coach with no buyout…
WTF does that even mean? The biggest rednecks I know are out west.
Hogs deserve someone a lot better than this guy .
Really showed this season, that he was looking elsewhere. Actually surprised he stayed 5 seasons. He’s a West Coast guy with too many connections to that way of life, way of thinking. And having a subpar conference record the past seasons was not a bright spot anyway. Seems like he picked a harder path in the Big Ten. Being a private school, won’t know what they’re paying. Might even not be as much as Arkie was paying, wanted back out there that much.
Rumors are he was mad that hog nation didn’t pony up for Nelson, who just helped power bama to the final 4. He’s been looking since then.
If you have only been at a school for 5 years, and the last 2 you are below .500 in conference, you have no business looking for a job unless you are a quitter or have been treated poorly. We know the last is not the case. With the loyalty this guy shows, you have to wonder why people want to hire him. I know every school thinks they will be different, but the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.
“I know every school thinks they will be different, but the best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.”
i remember when ark thought they were different when they hired petrino. but, like you said, a lot of schools feel that they’re different.
just a thought, but i’d be curious to see if ark goes after beard.
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Many thanks to Muss and hoping the bus drives well at USC.
Chris Beard. As a long time criminal defense lawyer in Texas, the ease in which these kind of accusations are brought is well documented.
The allegations were dropped, by the way.
Beard is a proven winner on the court. He likes Arkansas. I like him.
Musselman had a big case of little man syndrome. He seemed unstable at times; Arkansas won’t miss him. Musselman won’t do anything at USC.
I wonder if Brazile will be looking to come back home to Mizzou (if we would take him back…I would like to give him another chance…he always looked better in Black and Gold than red anyway).
I don’t know if bridges were burnt or not.
Anyway that’s what I am interested in.