Cynthia Cooper-Dyke named USC women's coach

Apr 12, 2013 - 3:04 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Cynthia Cooper-Dyke is returning to her alma mater, as USC announced the Hall-of-Famer will be the school's next women's head basketball coach.

Cooper-Dyke had a stellar playing career as her resume lists two NCAA titles at USC, four WNBA championships and an Olympic gold medal.

She has been a collegiate head coach for eight years, leading Texas Southern to a Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season championship last season. Before that, Cooper-Dyke spent five years at Prairie View A&M (2006-10) and two at UNC Wilmington (2011-12) and has a career record of 150-106.

"She was a part of the best basketball ever played here at USC, and she has seen success at so many levels of the game," USC athletic director Pat Haden said. "As a coach she has turned around several programs. We believe she can lead USC back to successful women's basketball, and we welcome her back to the USC campus."

Cooper-Dyke takes over for Michael Cooper, who resigned from the post following last season's disappointing 11-20 campaign.

"If you were to ask me what my dream job was at any point in my coaching career, I would always have said my dream is to come back and lead the USC women's basketball team," Cooper-Dyke said.

Cooper-Dyke was the first WNBA player enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.