The USC Trojans’ coaching search was a far and wide exploration, but it took a turn out of left field when Lincoln Riley was hired. No one saw that coming. With another athletic director search underway at the school, it could be a well-kept secret. We will have to wait and see.

Another candidate we will examine is Desiree Reed-Francois from Missouri. She was appointed to the position in 2021 but was given a new contract extension in April, so it shows how good a job she has done since coming to Mizzou.

Golf, softball, wrestling, and football all had good seasons this past year, which helped her case.

Before her time at Mizzou, Reed-Francois worked at UNLV, whose women’s basketball program has taken off. She has been successful everywhere she has gone and would bring administrative experience to Southern California.

Yes, Mizzou is an SEC program, but going to USC and having the opportunity to be a part of the Big Ten transition isn’t something that happens very often. It’s a unique opportunity if she is interested and USC has her on its list of top candidates.

Moreover, she was a consideration in 2019 before USC decided to hire Mike Bohn, so it would not be surprising if she was on the short list once again.

Names USC will be/has been interested in: Baylor’s Mack Rhoades, Jenn Cohen, Rob Mullens, Nova’s Mark Jackson, Whit Babcock and BC’s Martin Jarmond. G5: Temple’s Pat Kraft, UNLV’s Desiree Reed-Francois and Nevada’s Doug Knuth. If UNC’s Bubba Cunningham wanted it, he’d have got.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 9, 2019