USC Coach Eric Musselman Addresses Controversies, Vows Personal Growth

USC men's basketball coach Eric Musselman has publicly acknowledged the need for personal growth following recent controversies, including a lawsuit alleging racist remarks and a widely publicized altercation. In his first statements since the incidents, Musselman expressed a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

"I gotta get better, you know?" Musselman said during his team's pro day event at the Galen Center. "Obviously apologized about the beach incident, wanna get better and wanna improve, wanna be a lifelong learner, you know? So for us, it’s about moving forward and trying to get better in every aspect we can."

Musselman declined to comment directly on the lawsuit filed by former Trojans guard Chad Baker-Mazara, which accused him of a volatile locker-room tirade. The coach was asked about his level of concern regarding the lawsuit and a beach video impacting the perception of himself and the USC program, particularly in recruiting.

Despite the controversies, Musselman stated that recruiting is proceeding well. "Yeah, the recruiting right now has been, you know, great," he said. "You know, we’re trying to decide with name, image and likeness where our freshmen — the ‘27 class – where we land. But yeah, we feel like the recruiting’s going really well. This group has been totally focused on the upcoming season and from a chemistry standpoint, this group’s probably been as close as any group that I’ve had and probably been the funnest group that I’ve coached as well."

Baker-Mazara's lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles, alleged that Musselman made derogatory remarks and used racial slurs during a post-game incident in late February after Baker-Mazara departed a game against Nebraska due to injury. The lawsuit contends that Musselman screamed at Baker-Mazara, telling him to "shut the f—k up" and "Go back to the f—king Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! F—k you!" Baker-Mazara, who is from the Dominican Republic, was dismissed from the team the following day. His lawsuit also accused USC of damaging his character and NIL contract by invoking a "morals clause."

The beach confrontation occurred in mid-September when Musselman encountered a treasure hunter at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Video footage appeared to show Musselman using expletives and making aggressive remarks toward the individual before walking away. Following the video's release, Musselman issued a statement apologizing for his actions, noting that he "definitely should have handled this situation better and will learn from this for the future."

Musselman is preparing for his third season at USC, leading a team that includes five former McDonald's All-Americans. The Trojans are aiming for their first NCAA tournament appearance under his coaching.