Cavaliers lose trailblazing coach Lindsay Gottlieb to college ranks

The Cavaliers are losing trailblazing assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb back to the college ranks as she heads back west to coach the USC women’s program.

Lindsay Gottlieb made history after leaving the Cal women’s basketball program to join the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach. She took her program to a Final Four and established herself as a premier coach in the game.

Then came a shot on John Beilein’s staff in Cleveland. His tenure was shockingly short, but the staff remained in place upon his departure with J.B. Bickerstaff as the new head coach.

The Cavaliers are a bit of a mess right now and it’s fair for the coaches to seek out new opportunities. Gottlieb got one she simply could not pass up as the USC women’s basketball program is bringing her aboard on a six-year deal.

Cavaliers lose Lindsay Gottlieb to USC

This is a huge win for the USC program. Gottlieb comes in with over a decade of experience as a head coach and two years of experience in the NBA as an assistant.

She now has the tough task of turning around a Trojans team that has not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2014. Landing an NBA coach to turn the program around could end up being a monumental move in USC history.

Gottlieb is only 43 years old and could easily be back in the NBA one day not only as an assistant, but as a head coach. Her experience covers all roles on a coaching staff and she also served on the bench of a young, rebuilding Cavaliers team. That takes a ton of patience and requires much more coaching than on a team filled with superstars.

This is a major loss for the Cavaliers, but also a great opportunity for Gottlieb. She should have her pick of NBA jobs if all goes well in Southern California.