Cynthia Cooper-Dyke resigns as USC women’s basketball coach

FILE - In this Thursday, March 2, 2017, file photo, Southern California head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke directs her team against California in an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 Conference tournament in Seattle. Cooper-Dyke resigned on Friday, March 3, 2017, after four years coaching basketball at her alma mater USC. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) FILE - In this Thursday, March 2, 2017, file photo, Southern California head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke directs her team against California in an NCAA college basketball game in the Pac-12 Conference tournament in Seattle. Cooper-Dyke resigned on Friday, March 3, 2017, after four years coaching basketball at her alma mater USC. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

By Associated Press March 3, 2017 1 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Cynthia Cooper-Dyke has resigned after four years coaching basketball at her alma mater Southern California.

She had a 70-56 record, including 14-16 this season. Cooper-Dyke left on Friday, a day after the Trojans lost to California 71-58 in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle. They were 5-13 in league play, finishing tied for ninth.

Cooper-Dyke says in a statement that “what is best right now is that I step aside.” She gave no other explanation.

USC athletic director Lynn Swann also didn’t elaborate, saying only that Cooper-Dyke “is a great Trojan.”

Hired in 2014, Cooper-Dyke guided the Trojans to the Pac-12 Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth while going 22-13. Her team was 15-15 in 2015 and 19-13 last season.