Lindsay Gottlieb is a prominent American basketball coach currently serving as the women’s head coach for the USC Trojans in the Big Ten Conference. Her coaching journey began at UC Santa Barbara, where she made an immediate impact by leading the Gauchos to two regular-season Big West championships and a tournament championship in her first season. Her success at UCSB set the stage for her subsequent role at the University of California, Berkeley, where she achieved remarkable milestones, including guiding the Golden Bears to their first Final Four appearance in 2013 and earning the Pac-12 Coach of the Year award.
During her tenure at California, Gottlieb transformed the women’s basketball program, achieving a record of 179-89 over eight seasons. She led the Bears to seven NCAA tournament appearances, including a historic 32-4 season in 2012-13, which culminated in a second seed in the NCAA tournament. Her innovative coaching style emphasized both competitive excellence and a positive team culture, fostering an environment where players thrived both on and off the court.
In 2019, Gottlieb made history by becoming the first NCAA women’s head coach to join an NBA team, taking on an assistant coaching role with the Cleveland Cavaliers. This groundbreaking position showcased her versatility and expertise in the sport, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in women’s basketball.
On May 10, 2021, Gottlieb returned to collegiate coaching as the head coach at USC, where she aims to elevate the program to new heights. With a proven track record of success and a commitment to developing young athletes, Gottlieb continues to inspire the next generation of basketball players while promoting the growth of women’s sports.