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USC’s Lindsay Gottlieb Named A Finalist For Werner Ladder Naismith Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year
March 25, 2024 | Women's Basketball
In her third year with the Trojans, Gottlieb is one of four women’s coaches in line for Naismith honors.
As the Women of Troy head to the NCAA Second Round for the first time since 2006, USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb has been tabbed as a finalist for the 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's Coach of the Year, which is presented to college basketball's most outstanding head coach. Gottlieb and the top-seeded Trojans will face No. 8 seed Kansas at 7 p.m. tonight (March 25) at Galen Center in the NCAA Second Round.
In her third season at USC, Gottlieb has guided her No. 3 Women of Troy to their highest national ranking since 1986, coming off USC's run to the Pac-12 Tournament Championship. That run included wins over two top-10 opponents — No. 7 UCLA and No. 2 Stanford — to give USC its most wins over top-10 opponents since 1985-86 with five such victories. After claiming a decisive 87-55 win in the NCAA First Round, Gottlieb has the Trojans with 27 wins this season — the most since Lindsay Sharp's 1986 team tallied 31.
Picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this season, USC wrapped up second in the conference before storming its way to the tournament title. Gottlieb's 2024 Trojans have since earned the program's first No. 1 seed into the NCAA Tournament since 1986, and USC is making back-to-back NCAA appearances for the first time since 2006. Gottlieb has developed a USC roster replete with the chemistry and skill sets to succeed at a high level, including freshman JuJu Watkins who stands as the No. 2 scorer in the nation alongside a set of grad students with Ivy League experience and junior Rayah Marshall averaging a double-double for the Trojans.
The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Women's Coach of the Year will be awarded on Wednesday, April 3, at a press conference at the Key Bank Club in the Cleveland Browns Stadium during the Women's Final Four. The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men's College Coach of the Year announcement will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum will host the event. SiriusXM will simulcast the live announcement on SiriusXM College Sports Radio (Channel 84).
Fans will once again be able to support their favorite finalist through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike's, which runs Tuesday, March 26, through Tuesday, April 2, at naismithfanvote.com. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. Fans may also vote by visiting @naismithtrophy, @MarchMadness and @MarchMadnessWBB Twitter pages to vote for their favorite men's and women's coaches.
The four finalists for each category were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding coaching performances during the 2023-24 college basketball season. The vote was tabulated and verified by the Atlanta team of J.S. Held, a global consulting firm.
For more information, visit naismithtrophy.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT WERNER LADDER COMPANY
Werner, the official ladder of NCAA® March Madness® and the world leader in ladders, offers a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, Werner provides a full line of climbing equipment that's engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.
In her third season at USC, Gottlieb has guided her No. 3 Women of Troy to their highest national ranking since 1986, coming off USC's run to the Pac-12 Tournament Championship. That run included wins over two top-10 opponents — No. 7 UCLA and No. 2 Stanford — to give USC its most wins over top-10 opponents since 1985-86 with five such victories. After claiming a decisive 87-55 win in the NCAA First Round, Gottlieb has the Trojans with 27 wins this season — the most since Lindsay Sharp's 1986 team tallied 31.
Picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this season, USC wrapped up second in the conference before storming its way to the tournament title. Gottlieb's 2024 Trojans have since earned the program's first No. 1 seed into the NCAA Tournament since 1986, and USC is making back-to-back NCAA appearances for the first time since 2006. Gottlieb has developed a USC roster replete with the chemistry and skill sets to succeed at a high level, including freshman JuJu Watkins who stands as the No. 2 scorer in the nation alongside a set of grad students with Ivy League experience and junior Rayah Marshall averaging a double-double for the Trojans.
The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Women's Coach of the Year will be awarded on Wednesday, April 3, at a press conference at the Key Bank Club in the Cleveland Browns Stadium during the Women's Final Four. The 2024 Werner Ladder Naismith Trophy for Men's College Coach of the Year announcement will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum will host the event. SiriusXM will simulcast the live announcement on SiriusXM College Sports Radio (Channel 84).
Fans will once again be able to support their favorite finalist through the Naismith Awards Fan Vote presented by Jersey Mike's, which runs Tuesday, March 26, through Tuesday, April 2, at naismithfanvote.com. The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. Fans may also vote by visiting @naismithtrophy, @MarchMadness and @MarchMadnessWBB Twitter pages to vote for their favorite men's and women's coaches.
The four finalists for each category were chosen by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's national voting academy, comprised of leading journalists from around the country, current and former head coaches, former award winners and conference commissioners, all of whom base their selections on outstanding coaching performances during the 2023-24 college basketball season. The vote was tabulated and verified by the Atlanta team of J.S. Held, a global consulting firm.
For more information, visit naismithtrophy.com.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include AXIA Time, Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
ABOUT WERNER LADDER COMPANY
Werner, the official ladder of NCAA® March Madness® and the world leader in ladders, offers a complete line of climbing products designed for working at heights. The portfolio includes ladders, attic ladders, scaffolding, pump jacks, stages, planks, accessories and fall protection equipment including harnesses, lanyards, anchors and compliance kits. From ladders to fall protection, Werner provides a full line of climbing equipment that's engineered for maximum safety, durability and productivity at every height. All Werner products meet or exceed applicable international safety standards. For more information, visit www.wernerladder.com.
Women's Basketball Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb Media Availability 9/18/25
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USC WBB's Lindsay Gottlieb, Rayah Marshall and Talia von Oelhoffen | Trojan Press Conference
Monday, March 31
USC WBB heads to the Elite 8, defeats Kansas State in Sweet 16 | Rapid Reaction
Saturday, March 29
Kennedy Smith on USC WBB heading to the Elite Eight, Trojan freshmen getting the job done
Saturday, March 29
