The University of San Diego (USD) has dismissed Steve Lavin as the head coach of its men's basketball team, effective Wednesday, with three regular-season games and at least one West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament game remaining. Athletic Director Kimya Massey informed players of the decision. Lavin's tenure at USD, which began in 2022, concluded with an overall record of 46-79.
Coaching Tenure and Performance
Steve Lavin coached the Toreros for four seasons, accumulating an overall record of 46-79 and an 18-47 record in the West Coast Conference. His most successful season was 2023-24, during which the team achieved an 18-15 record and finished fifth in the WCC. At the time of his dismissal during the current season, the team held an 11-17 overall record (5-10 WCC) and was in 10th place in the conference. The program did not secure an NCAA Tournament appearance under Lavin's leadership.
During his time at USD, Lavin implemented various approaches to roster construction, including acquiring veteran transfers, developing younger players, and recruiting European professionals. These strategies did not lead to consistent program success and were marked by annual player turnover. Recently, leading scorer Ty-Laur Johnson was removed from the program due to disciplinary issues.
University and Coach Statements
USD President James T. Harris III stated that Lavin consistently aligned with university values and served as a strong ambassador. Coach Lavin released a statement expressing optimism for USD's future, attributing it to the funding, facilities, and continuity now established within the basketball program.
Search for a New Head Coach
Athletic Director Kimya Massey stated that the timing of the dismissal allows the university to commence the search for a new coach before the college basketball transfer portal opens, anticipating a potential roster overhaul. A national search firm has been retained, with the objective of hiring a new coach within approximately one month.
The university aims for the men's basketball program to compete in the upper tier of the WCC and become a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament. USD last participated in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and has recorded only one winning season in the past seven years.
Potential CandidatesMassey affirmed the university's commitment to providing leadership, Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) and revenue-sharing investments, and student-athlete support to build competitive rosters.
Potential candidates identified for the head coach position include:
- David Fizdale (USD alum, NBA coaching veteran)
- Rick Croy (Cal Baptist coach)
- Craig Smith (former Utah and Utah State coach)
- Larry Krystkowiak (former Utah coach)
- Matt Logie (Montana State coach, formerly at Division II Point Loma Nazarene)
- Assistant coaches from prominent Southern California programs such as UCLA and San Diego State
Steve Lavin's Career Background
Steve Lavin, 61, was in the fourth season of a six-year contract, which was established by former Athletic Director Bill McGillis. His reported salary in 2023 was $989,057.
Before joining USD, Lavin coached the St. John's Red Storm for five seasons, leading them to two NCAA Tournament appearances and two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) berths. He also had a career in college basketball broadcasting, serving as a studio and game analyst for Fox Sports, primarily covering the Big East, from 2015 to 2022. Additionally, he contributed to TNT Sports' NCAA Tournament coverage between 2017 and 2022. Prior to his coaching role at St. John's, Lavin spent seven seasons as a college basketball analyst for ESPN and ABC. He is considered a potential candidate to return to sports broadcasting following his departure from USD.