"He's made a huge impact on us": USC HC Lindsay Gottlieb expresses pride after Dallas Wings appoint Chris Koclanes as new head coach 

Lindsay Gottlieb's assistant coach at USC Trojans, Chris Koclanes, is taking his talents to the WNBA as the Dallas Wings' new head coach. The opportunity came behind Koclanes' experience of gripping the assistant role for more than a decade, a week after the franchise won the rights to the top pick in the 2025 WNBA draft.

As USC congratulated the defensive and player development expert, Gottlieb took some time out to express pride on her Instagram story, highlighting Koclanes contribution to the program.

"It's especially gratifying when good things happen for good people. I'm excited for Chris and the Wings. He's made a huge impact on us.," Lindsay Gottlieb wrote while reposting USC and Dallas Wings' collaborative post.

Lindsay Gottlieb's IG story for Chris Koclanes

The USC coach took her praise a level ahead, reposting the program's parting acknowledgment and her comments on Koclanes' leadership and ability to connect with the youth.

Gottlieb's IG story for Dallas Wings' new coach

Currently, in his second year under Gottlieb, Chris Koclanes also has significant pre-existing WNBA experience. He was the defensive coordinator for the Connecticut Sun from 2016 to 2022, helping the franchise reach two semifinals and two championship games. He then worked with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023.

Koclanes will be formally introduced by the Dallas Wings through an official press conference on Jan. 9, 2025.

Lindsay Gottlieb talks about the win over UConn Huskies

The USC Trojans defeated the UConn Huskies (72-70) in one of their biggest matchups of the season on Saturday. JuJu Watkins led with a game-high 25 points while Paige Bueckers dropped 22 points.

In the post-game conference, Lindsay Gottlieb claimed that the victory acts like a stepping stone for USC and its women’s basketball program.

"This is a really significant win because of the stature of UConn's program and what Geno Auriemma has done for our sport," she said (0:40).

"I told them (Trojans' roster) in there, 'For my entire high school and on, this is what basketball excellence was.' This is what we saw and it's challenged all of us to want to be better, to find players that want to be better and be that elite."

The Trojans will now take a week off from the hardwood for the Christmas holidays and return on Sunday, Dec. 29, against No. 23 Michigan Wolverines.