Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigns as USC women’s basketball coach
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke has resigned after four years coaching basketball at USC, her alma mater.
She had a 70-56 record, including 14-16 this season. Cooper-Dyke left on Friday, a day after the Trojans lost to California. 71-58, in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament in Seattle. They were 5-13 in league play, finishing tied for ninth.
Cooper-Dyke said in a statement that “what is best right now is that I step aside.” She gave no other explanation.
USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann also didn’t elaborate, saying only that Cooper-Dyke “is a great Trojan.”
Hired in 2014, Cooper-Dyke guided the Trojans to the Pac-12 tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth while going 22-13. Her team was 15-15 in 2015 and 19-13 last season.
As a player, she helped the Trojans win two NCAA championships. She went on to win an Olympic gold medal and four WNBA titles with the Houston Comets.
Cooper-Dyke previously coached the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and had college stints at Prairie View A&M, North Carolina-Wilmington and Texas Southern.
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