Less than 48 hours after a statement victory, the USC women’s basketball program lost a member of its coaching staff, but for the best possible reason. On Monday, USC assistant Chris Koclanes was officially named the head coach of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. He will take over a team that finished with the second-worst record in the league this past season at 9-31.
Koclanes was in his second season on Lindsay Gottlieb’s USC staff. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with both the Connecticut Sun and the Los Angeles Sparks.
“We are thrilled for Chris to be named the new head coach of the Dallas Wings,” Gottlieb said in a statement. “Chris has a unique ability to see the game, break down the game, and then transfer that knowledge to players in clear and relatable ways. He’s a true teacher with the ability to connect with people.
“Chris came to us from the [WNBA] and immediately brought a new and important element to our staff and players. He’s been a huge part of our growth trajectory at USC, and now we are proud and excited to see him lead the Wings.”
Although Koclanes will take over a significant rebuild, he does have one thing going for him: Dallas recently won the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft Lottery. UConn star Paige Bueckers is widely projected as the top selection in next Spring’s draft.