Eric Musselman Reportedly Facing Loss of Key Assistant Coach
The USC Trojans men’s basketball team could be losing an experienced assistant coach.
According to college basketball insider John Rothstein, USC head coach Eric Musselman may be losing assistant coach Todd Lee. Rothstein reports that Lee is the leading candidate for the head coach position at Cal State Bakersfield, though a deal has not yet been finalized.
Todd Lee’s History with Eric Musselman
Lee has worked alongside Musselman since 2023 when he joined the Arkansas coaching staff. After Musselman took the USC job in 2024, Lee followed him to Los Angeles. Before working with Musselman, Lee was the head coach at South Dakota for four years.
The two coaches first teamed up in the 1990s, working together in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Rapid City Thrillers from 1992 to 1994. Lee then left Musselman’s staff to take an assistant coaching job at Cal State Bakersfield. Now, in 2026, Lee is once again set to leave Musselman’s staff, this time for a head coaching role at Cal State Bakersfield.
USC’s Coaching Staff and Future Plans
If Lee accepts the head coach position at Cal State Bakersfield, USC will lose one of its more experienced assistant coaches. However, the Trojans’ coaching staff still includes several seasoned veterans like Earl Boykins, Will Conroy, and Anthony Ruta, all of whom bring over a decade of basketball experience.
Musselman’s staff is known for its coaching depth and continuity, and while losing Lee would be a setback, it could also make USC an attractive destination for future assistant coaches looking to grow under Musselman’s leadership.
USC Basketball Outlook
The Trojans struggled during the 2025-26 season, missing the NCAA Tournament due to a series of injuries to key players, including guards Rodney Rice, Amarion Dickerson, and Alijah Arenas. Transfer guard Chad Baker-Mazara also dealt with a knee injury but was expected to return before Musselman announced his departure from the program.
With the transfer portal opening after the national championship on April 7, it remains unclear how the Trojans’ roster will shape up for next season.
On a positive note, USC recently secured a commitment from five-star power forward Christian Collins, one of the top recruits in the country, who will join signees Adonis Ratliff and Darius Ratliff in the Trojans’ 2026 recruiting class.
If Musselman can continue to attract top talent, USC’s chances of returning to NCAA Tournament contention will improve. The Trojans have not appeared in March Madness for three years, and Musselman has yet to lead them to the tournament since taking over the program.
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