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The coach who led USC to its three most recent NCAA Tournament appearances will not return for upcoming season.
USC athletics director Pat Haden announced Thursday that coach Bill Ferguson was let go as the head coach.
Ferguson in nine seasons with the Trojans went had a 150-102 all-time record and twice led USC to the NCAA Tournament finals but could not win the program’s first national title in more than 20 years.
“We want to thank Bill for his service to USC these past nine years,” Haden said in a statement. “He fielded competitive teams that often were in the national discussion and he recruited some accomplished players who represented our University well. He took over a program that had been wallowing for five years and changed its culture not only on the court, but in the classroom and in service to the community. We will now move forward to re-energize the program.”
USC under Ferguson in 2011 was ranked No. 1 in the national coaches poll for the entire regular season but lost in the NCAA Tournament semifinals. It also repeated as MPSF Tournament regular season champions in 2012 but lost on its home court in the NCAA Tournament finals.
The Trojans finished this season in fourth place in the MPSF and reached the conference tournament semifinals.
“I love USC and I always will. I want to thank the athletic department for the opportunity to coach at USC and for all they did for me, my family and the program,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I’d also like to thank the men’s volleyball alumni for their support. I am proud of the work I did here, and I am proud of the players and assistant coaches who came through our program and those currently here. The program is in very good shape for the future and I look forward to the success it will enjoy.”
USC announced that the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.