FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas men’s basketball team is in the market for a new head coach.
Eric Musselman is leaving Arkansas after five seasons to become Southern Cal’s coach, sources told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Thursday afternoon.
Musselman, 59, led the Razorbacks to a 111-59 record and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
“My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this incredible opportunity at USC,” Musselman said in a news release. “I am grateful to President [Carol] Folt and [Athletic Director] Jen Cohen for the chance to lead the men’s basketball program at such a world-class university with a rich tradition of success.
“We will be committed to the development of our student-athletes and upholding the values that make the Trojan Family so special. We will hit the ground running and work tirelessly to make our great alumni, fans and all of Los Angeles proud.”
Musselman will be formally introduced as USC’s new coach Friday at a news conference in Los Angeles.
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
Arkansas is owed a $1 million buyout by Musselman under the terms of his contract. He was paid $4.2 annually at Arkansas and his contract had four more years remaining through the 2027-28 season.
It’s the first time in 39 years a men’s basketball coach resigned at Arkansas to take another position.
Eddie Sutton left Arkansas to accept the Kentucky job after the 1984-85 season.
Every Razorbacks coach since Sutton — Nolan Richardson, Stan Heath, John Pelphrey and Mike Anderson — had been fired, until Musselman’s departure.
Musselman released a statement on social media Thursday expressing gratitude for his time at Arkansas.
“From the moment my family and I stepped into this state and onto this beautiful campus, you have welcomed us and made us feel at home,” Musselman said. “The last five years have been so special for my family and I. They have been filled with so many moments that I will remember for the rest of my life. I hope this time gave you some special moments, too.
“Thank you, Razorback fans. You are among the most passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated in the country.
“We would like to thank [Arkansas Athletic Director] Hunter Yurachek, the entire athletic department, the student-athletes, student body, and alumni for their unwavering support and energy.”
The Razorbacks made consecutive NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances in 2021 and 2022 under Musselman and advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2023.
It was the first run of three consecutive Sweet 16 appearances for the Razorbacks since they made four in a row from 1993-96 and their first back-to-back Elite Eights since 1994-95, when they won the national championship and returned to the title game before losing to UCLA.
The Razorbacks had been 0-10 against No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament before Musselman’s arrival. He led Arkansas to two victories over No. 1 seeds against Gonzaga in a Sweet 16 matchup in 2022 at San Francisco and against Kansas in a second-round game last season at Des Moines, Iowa.
Musselman’s Razorbacks beat two No. 1-ranked teams in 2022 with their 80-76 overtime victory against Auburn in Walton Arena — resulting in the court being stormed — and against Gonzaga 74-68 in the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas’ only previous victory over a No. 1 team had been in 1984 against North Carolina 65-64 in Pine Bluff.
“I think you’ve got to appreciate the fact Muss elevated Arkansas basketball from where it was to where he leaves the program now,” said Jimmy Dykes, a former Razorback player and coach of the UA women’s team who is a television analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network. “He lifted Arkansas back up to being a nationally-relevant program again.
“And that’s not easy to do. That’s a lot of heavy lifting to get it done like he did in the amount of time he had.”
Musselman is replacing Andy Enfield, who left USC after 11 seasons to become SMU’s coach.
USC is the fourth head coaching job in California for Musselman, but first at the collegiate level. He previously was an NBA coach for the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings and a G-League coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Musselman was a backup point guard at the University of San Diego from 1984-87 and during the summers he worked part-time for the San Diego Padres in customer service. His mother, Kris, lives in San Diego.
Before Musselman got into coaching, his first job in pro basketball was selling tickets for the Los Angeles Clippers. He also became an assistant to Clippers General Manager Elgin Baylor.
“As soon as the news broke that Enfield was leaving USC, I thought that Muss was going to be the next coach there,” Dykes said. “Muss fits there really, really well considering how much he loves Southern California, how much time he has spent there in the offseason.”
Musselman posted a video of himself on a plane along with his wife Danyelle, sons Michael and Matthew, and daughter Mariah.
“Hey, this is the Musselman family,” Musselman said. “We cannot wait to join the Trojan family. We’re on our way to LA. Can’t wait to get there. Fight on.”
Musselman will lead USC’s basketball program into the Big Ten. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten starting next season.
“Another plus for Muss going to USC is the fact that he’s going to a very fertile recruiting ground out there in Los Angeles,” Dykes said. “When you consider USC is now going to the Big Ten, his recruiting base can be all up and down that West Coast and also going into the Midwest and Eastern states.
“There are a lot of bonuses to USC being in the Big Ten from a recruiting standpoint. He can truly recruit nationally coast to coast.”
Dykes said he believes playing in the Big Ten will be good for Musselman and USC.
“Personally, I think it’s going to be easier to finish in the top four or five of the Big Ten than it will be in the top four or five in the SEC going forward,” Dykes said. “I don’t know if that played into Muss’ thinking. I haven’t talked to Muss.
“But looking at it from a national perspective, if you’re thinking what would I rather have to battle through for the next five years — the SEC or the Big Ten, I would take the Big Ten.
“Especially when you’ve got the resources that USC and the Southern California area offers to Muss right now.”
Musselman’s overall record as a college coach is 221-93. His first eight seasons — four at Nevada and four at Arkansas — his teams won at least 20 games and made six NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Razorbacks had high expectations again this season and were ranked No. 14 in The Associated Press and USA Today preseason polls voted on by the media and coaches.
But Arkansas struggled to a 16-17 record, including 6-12 in SEC play with a team featuring nine newcomers.
“This is new territory,” Musselman said after the Razorbacks ended their season with an 80-66 loss to South Carolina at the SEC Tournament. “Right now the season ending stings.”
USC, like Arkansas, had a disappointing season in which it finished with a losing record (15-18) after it was ranked in the preseason polls.
Enfield had a 220-146 record at USC with five NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by advancing to the Elite Eight in 2022. It was USC’s fourth Elite Eight appearance, but first since 2001. The Trojans have never played in a Final Four.
“We were determined to find the best coach to champion the development of our student-athletes and elevate our men’s basketball program,” Cohen said in a statement. “[Musselman’s] track record of building winning programs and his unwavering commitment to a culture of excellence make him the perfect fit for USC.
“Eric displays heart, boldness, resiliency, and everything that it means to be a Trojan. He inspires togetherness and will help build and grow the program’s connectivity within the Trojan community.
“As we move to the Big Ten and enter a new chapter for USC men’s basketball, there is no better fit than Eric Musselman to launch our program to new heights.”
Matt Jones contributed to this article.