USC Dominates Pac-12 Postseason Awards

Dave Salo, in his final year as USC's head coach, was named the 2020 Pac-12 Women's Swimming Coach of the Year, senior co-captain Louise Hansson was tabbed Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Year while Nike Agunbiade earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors.

This is Salo's second such honor after he was voted co-coach of the year in 2016 following the Trojans conference title. Salo led the Trojans to a third-place finish at the 2020 Pac-12 Championships, finishing with 1,212 points and marking the 10th time in the last 11 years the Trojans have placed top-three or better. USC earns its fourth Swimming Coach of the Year award in Pac-12 history.

"I am humbled to be honored by the Pac-12 coaches," Salo said. "There was some great coaching by all the Pac-12 coaches this year and I am truly honored to be finishing my USC career amongst these outstanding people. I am equally proud of how our team pushed through a very difficult season to bring such a distinction to the end of my Trojan career."

Hansson claimed the Pac-12 Swimmer of the Year award – USC's fifth and first since Olympic champ Katinka Hosszu won in 2011, after collecting three Pac-12 titles last month, upping her career Pac-12 total to eight individual conference crowns. Hansson also contributed to a Trojan record two first-place relay finishes in the 400y and 800y free.

At the 2020 Pac-12s, Hansson took home the Swimmer of the Meet trophy after defending her three crowns in the 100y fly, 200y fly and 200y IM. Heading into the recently cancelled NCAA Championships, she was the top seed in the 200y fly (1:51.26), third in the 100y fly (49.94), sixth in the 200y free (1:43.01), eighth in the 200y IM (1:54.09) and 12th in the 100y free (47.82).

"I am proud to have been able to coach Louise over these past four years," Salo said, "and watch her become the best in NCAA swimming and an ever growing confident international athlete. Louise is the complete student-athlete and, much like Katinka Hosszu, was transformational to this program. Her best is still yet to come in all that she pursues."

A Swedish Olympian, three-NCAA champion, 12-time All-American and second-year USC captain, Hansson looked to defend her NCAA titles this year in the 100y and 200y fly. Hansson is the NCAA record holder in the 100y fly, the third-fastest ever in the 200y fly and owns USC records in both fly events as well as in the 100y and 200y free and the 100y back, plus four relays (all but 200 free relay).

Agunbiade was selected as the Pac-12 Freshman Diver of the Year after a stellar first year on the Trojan roster. She recorded 77 total points at the Pac-12 Championships, the most of any freshman diver and third-most of all divers.

She was second on the Pac-12 3-meter with 343.70, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The freshman was also fourth (302.80) in the women's 1-meter springboard and seventh on platform with 236.80.

Agunbiade, USC's fifth Freshman Diver of the Year and first since 2013, was the only freshman to finish in the top-three in two out of the three championship events.

Her freshman season was also highlighted by numerous impressive invitational finishes including wins on 1-meter (408.95) and 3-meter (349.50) at the Utah Diving invitational, and a pair of wins at the Trojan Diving Invitational including 3-meter (660.50, 352.40 in the final) and platform (537.35).

"Nike demonstrates a raw athletic ability, incredible talent and proves her competitiveness throughout the season. All of these qualities come down to a fundamental principle of dedication, discipline, and diligent work. The award being presented to Nike is well deserved" said USC Head Diving Coach Hongping Li.

Agunbiade had earned NCAA qualifying on all three boards at the 2020 Zone E Championships which included a second on 3-meter (339.20), fourth on platform (550.85) and ninth on 1-meter (525.25), repeating as a three-time finalist after doing the same at Pac-12s.

Players Mentioned

Nike Agunbiade

Louise Hansson