Eric Musselman, the head coach of the USC men’s basketball team, has faced significant scrutiny following allegations of misconduct and a public dispute.
Earlier this month, Musselman was at the center of a lawsuit filed by former player Chad Baker-Mazara, who accused the coach of making racist remarks during a locker-room confrontation. Subsequently, a video emerged showing Musselman in a heated argument with an individual at Manhattan Beach Pier, raising further questions about his conduct.
In his first public statement since apologizing for the beach incident, Musselman acknowledged the need for personal growth during USC’s pro day event, where NBA scouts were present. “I mean, I gotta get better, you know?” he said. “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.”
When questioned about the lawsuit, Musselman declined to comment but addressed recruiting efforts, stating, “Yeah, the recruiting right now has been, you know, great,” and highlighting the focus of his team on the upcoming season. He praised the group’s chemistry, calling it “the funnest group that I’ve coached as well.”
According to legal documents, the lawsuit alleges that after Baker-Mazara left a game against Nebraska due to injury, Musselman confronted the team and hurled insults at the player. The court filing includes alleged statements such as, “You shut the f—k up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!” and “Yes, leave! Go back to the f—king Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! F—k you!” Following the incident, Baker-Mazara was removed from the team.
The lawsuit also claims USC terminated the player’s name, image, and likeness ( NIL) contract under a “morals clause,” seeking damages for reputational harm and interference with his professional prospects. Separately, the beach confrontation video shows Musselman instructing a treasure hunter to “shut the f—k up” and calling him a “f—king d—khead” during an altercation.
In a statement, Musselman expressed regret, affirming his commitment to learning from the incidents. Despite the controversies, the third-year coach remains focused on leading USC’s talented roster, which includes five McDonald’s All-Americans, in pursuing their first NCAA tournament appearance under his leadership.