Mark Trakh retires after second run as USC women’s basketball coach

USC women’s basketball coach Mark Trakh retired Wednesday, the school announced, leaving USC with a 155-114 record in nine seasons. He is the second-winningest coach in program history after coaching the Trojans from 2004-2009 and 2017-2021.

“This is a perfect time for a transition in the Trojan basketball program,” Trakh said in a statement. “I can’t imagine a more optimal time for all of us to embrace a fresh start.”

Trakh’s 26-year collegiate head coaching career spanned three schools with a .591 winning percentage, including a 65-50 record in the last four years with USC. But the Trojans finished no better than seventh in the competitive Pac-12 conference since Trakh returned in 2017. USC hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2014 and hasn’t won a tournament game since 2006.

USC finished with an 11-12 overall record last season, led by sophomore Endyia Rogers, who was named to the All-Pac-12 team. Sophomore Alissa Pili, the former Pac-12 freshman of the year, was hampered by an ankle injury for much of the season, but earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention along with freshman Amaya Oliver, giving the Trojans a young core of talented players.

Senior Jordan Sanders, a transfer from UC Irvine, also was named an all-conference honorable mention, giving the Trojans four All-Pac-12 players for the first time since 2012.

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“The future of our women’s basketball program is very promising, and we are committed to providing the necessary resources to restore the illustrious tradition of excellence of the Women of Troy,” USC athletic director Mike Bohn said in a statement. “With our historically strong brand, new and improved facilities, and a talented roster of returners and highly ranked incoming recruiting class, we are confident we will attract a championship caliber coach.”

Bohn added that a national search for Trakh’s replacement will begin immediately.