USC Women's Basketball: New Assistant Coach Signs On With Women Of Troy

Your USC Women of Troy are adding another bench piece behind head coach Lindsey Gottlieb, as she looks to build on a 21-10 2022-23 season finish (11-7 in Pac-12 play) and a subsequent first round March Madness exit.

Per a USC presser, longtime WNBA assistant coach Chris Koclanes is joining Gottlieb and co. ahead of the program's 2023-24 run.

Koclanes initially served as a video coordinator with the Women of Troy in 2015. He simultaneously worked with the Connecticut Sun under head coach Curt Miller, in the same capacity, starting in 2016 (the WNBA season runs from May-October, while college basketball tips off in November, though presumably there was some finagling when it came to NCAA prep). Upon being promoted to an assistant coach in 2019, Koclanes became a full-time Sun employee, but he clearly remembered his time at the Galen Center fondly.

He was the Sun's defensive coordinator during his tenure under Miller, who steward the Jonquel Jones-led club to WNBA Finals appearances in 2019 and 2022. Miller (and Koclanes) left for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023.

"What a huge win for our program to be able to add Chris Koclanes as an assistant coach," Gottlieb refelcted. "He has extensive WNBA experience, and can help our players see what it will take to get to that next level. He is also an elite teacher of the game. Detail oriented and forward thinking, he'll help us in every aspect from schemes to player development. Additionally, he is just a phenomenal human who is committed to pouring his knowledge and energy into the comprehensive development of our young women."

For his part, Koclanes expressed his own excitement to be back with USC.

"This place is special, the Trojan Family is real! Lindsay has created great momentum for women's basketball, and I am looking forward to supporting her vision," Koclanes said. "I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to represent and serve this university, our staff and most importantly our student-athletes. Fight on!"

On the court, major help is also on the way for the Women of Troy. That's because freshman guard JuJu Watkins, the top high schooler in class and an alum of Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, is joining the program. She'll be joining a strong returning core nucleus of All-Pac-12 Team center Rayah Marshall, Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention senior guard Kayla Williams, fifth-year guard India Otto, redshirt sophomore guard Taylor Bigby, and junior big Clarice Akunwafo.

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