Eric Musselman to interview for open Big Ten head coaching job, per reports
Eric Musselman could be on the move after 5 seasons at Arkansas.
Multiple outlets, including 247Sports’ HawgSports, are reporting that Musselman will interview for the USC head coaching job.
USC’s Andy Enfield recently departed for SMU, a job Musselman was also linked to in the rumor mill. In their last season as a Pac-12 program, Enfield’s Trojans went 15-18 overall and 8-12 in conference play. USC is joining the Big Ten starting in the 2024-25 athletic season, which begins this fall.
Musselman credited with getting Arkansas over NCAA Tournament hump
If Musselman moves on, he’ll be leaving Arkansas after a down year, but a successful tenure.
The Hogs have posted a 111-59 record in 5 seasons under Musselman. Arkansas reached the Sweet 16 three times, with two trips to the Elite 8. The 2023-24 campaign is the only year Musselman’s Razorbacks have missed an NCAA Tournament that was played.
Before Musselman’s arrival, Arkansas had been struggling to get out of the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend. In 2021, the Razorbacks returned to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1996. With a win, the Hogs made it their first Elite 8 since 1995.
In Musselman’s first season, Arkansas was 20-12 when the NCAA basketball season was shut down before March Madness due to COVID-19. The Hogs missed the 2024 postseason after going 16-17 and just 6-12 in SEC play.
Musselman’s California roots
Though Musselman was born in Ashland, Ohio, taking the USC job would be a homecoming of sorts for the 59-year-old.
Many Arkansas fans remember that Musselman shared a special moment with his mom, Kristine Musselman Platt, at the 2022 Sweet 16 in San Francisco. Kris lives in San Diego, and the San Francisco game was her first opportunity to watch Musselman coach the Razorbacks in person.
— Kristine Musselman Platt (@PlattKristine) March 26, 2022
Musselman speaks fondly of growing up in San Diego and purchases the Extra Innings TV package to watch Padres baseball games in Arkansas. Musselman played at San Diego from 1983-87.
Musselman’s other California stops include coaching stints with the Golden State Warriors (2002-04), Sacramento Kings (2006-07) and the G League’s Los Angeles D-Fenders (2011-12).
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Musselman isn’t interviewing. This is simply a contract negotiation, for both USC and Arkansas.
Crazy, in college major sports there typically aren’t announcements about coaches interviewing for a job. Those meetings are held in secret. I mean, did anyone know who Alabama was interviewing to replace Saban?
I love Coach Muss, but he’s already paid pretty well, so I don’t see this as being about $$. Maybe it’s all about an extension, who knows. If he stays, then great. If he leaves, it’s not the end of the world.
Muss has already packed his bags. He gone.
I’d like to see the Indiana St coach as his replacement.
I hope this doesn’t make me one of the delusional Hog fans that drive me crazy, but I don’t think we’re a program that has to go fishing in the mid-major pond. Outside of the blue bloods, Arkansas should be an attractive job to anyone. I would like to see us land a reputable name who has a track record of winning big games on big stages. Throw Muss level money at the Iowa St. HC or Greg McDermott and make them say no.
The Iowa St coach is an Iowa native with a massive buyout. McDermott just signed an extension. Chris Beard’s name keeps coming up. He’s a great coach but a complete dirtbag who is constantly kicking the tires on other jobs.
Since 1906 USC has 14 league championships, one conference tournament title, 16 NCAA tournament appearances, five Sweet Sixteen appearances, four Elite Eight appearances, and two Final Four appearances. They are not and never have been consistent powers. I don’t see how USC would be any better than Arkansas except it is close to home.
There are some rumblings that Muss has been frustrated with the NIL situation here. Between what I would assume is pretty fertile NIL territory and USC’s move to the B1G, maybe he sees a higher ceiling long term? But I think you’re right. Dude just wants to be back on the west coast.
I heard Akry fans want him gone. Is that not true?
He was fun for a while but his true colors have started showing and it rubbed the fanbase the wrong way. If he leaves, we won’t be upset, put it that way
I don’t know of anyone who genuinely wants him gone. He’s widely seen as a great coach whose players just didn’t click this year for whatever reason. Seems like he’s been peeking over the fence at other jobs since that first NCAAT run, and the radio silence with the latest rumors rub people the wrong way. Arkansas is a proud state with an inferiority complex. We just get our feelings hurt when we love people and they don’t love us back, so that shows up in a lot of “Fine, get out of here then!” kind of stuff.