Less than 48 hours later a declared victoryThe USC women’s basketball program lost a member of its coaching staff, but for the best reason possible. On Monday, USC assistant Chris Koclanes was officially named head coach of the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. He will take over a team that finished with the second-worst record in the league last season (9-31).
Koclanes was in his second season on Lindsay Gottlieb’s USC team. Prior to that, he served as an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks.
“We are excited to have Chris named the new head coach of the Dallas Wings,” Gottlieb said in a statement. “Chris has a unique ability to see the game, break it down, and then convey that knowledge to players in a clear and relevant way. He is 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 team and our players. He played a major role in our growth trajectory at USC, and now we are proud and excited to have him lead the Wings.
Although Koclanes will handle a significant rebuild, he has one thing going for him: Dallas recently won the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft lottery. UConn star Paige Bueckers is widely considered the No. 1 selection in next spring’s draft.
This article was originally published on Trojans Wire: USC women’s basketball assistant coach leaves WNBA
