COOPER NAMED USC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

BY WAVE STAFF

Michael Cooper, the L.A. Sparks head coach and former Laker great, is the new women’s basketball coach at USC.

He officially takes over upon completion of the WNBA season in late September or early October.

Cooper, 53, replaces Mark Trakh, who resigned last month after guiding the Trojans for five seasons.

Joining his staff will be long-time college and high school assistant Ervin Monier, who will oversee the program until Cooper’s arrival.

“We are absolutely thrilled to hire a coach of Michael Cooper’s caliber,” USC athletic director Mike Garrett said. “Between Michael’s coaching experience and his playing background, he brings so much to the table.

“He has coached and played at the highest level and with the greatest players in the world. He’ll be an excellent in-game coach, he’ll do a great job preparing his teams and he’ll wow the recruits. And I’ll say this: we’ll be a strong team defensively.”

Cooper is looking forward to his new assignment.

“I’m very honored to have this opportunity to coach at a great university with such a rich tradition in women’s basketball,” he said. “My philosophy has always been about winning championships, and at USC we want to do that as well as graduate our players and make sure they enjoy their basketball experience. I’m looking forward to working in a collegiate atmosphere and all that comes with it.”

First, though, he has his Sparks’ obligation to complete.

“But for the next few months, it’s important to understand that my focus and commitment will be with the Los Angeles Sparks and winning a championship,” he said. “I’m excited about the Sparks’ upcoming season and I am totally devoted to them right now. After that, I’ll switch gears and be equally excited about USC.”

During a 12-year playing career, Cooper was a member of five NBA championship teams with the Lakers. He has been the Sparks coach the past seven years.

Monier, 47, spent the last five year as associate head coach at Rhode Island.Prior to that, he was an assistant to Dawn Staley at Temple.

He has also coached locally.

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Hawthorne High School, where he coached from 1986-91. He then coached at L.A. Southwest College from 1992-96 and became an assistant at Washington Prep in 1999. The following year he was at Chadwick in Palos Verdes and has also taught at the middle and high school levels in the L.A. Unified School District.