SMU targeting USC’s Andy Enfield as men’s basketball coach: Source

SMU is targeting USC’s Andy Enfield to become the Mustangs’ next men’s basketball coach, a school source confirmed Thursday. Enfield, 54, has coached the Trojans since 2013 and signed a six-year contract extension with USC in March 2022. 

ESPN was the first to report the news.

Before USC, Enfield coached Florida Gulf Coast from 2011 to 2013. He ascended into the national spotlight when he led the Eagles to the Sweet 16 in 2013, the first time a No. 15 seed advanced to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

During his tenure at USC, Enfield led the program to five NCAA Tournament appearances. The furthest the Trojans advanced under Enfield was the Elite Eight in 2021, when the team had Evan Mobley, who became the Pac-12 Player of the Year that season.

Last season, Enfield coached freshman Bronny James, the son of LeBron James. Bronny played 25 games during his freshman campaign in 2023-24, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game on 36.6 percent shooting from the floor.

In 11 seasons at USC, Enfield’s record was 220-147. He was the Pac-12 Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 season.

SMU hasn’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2017. The Mustangs are leaving the AAC and moving to the ACC in July 2024.

On March 21, SMU fired coach Rob Lanier after two seasons. The Mustangs went 20-13 in 2023-24.

What does this mean for SMU?

The Mustangs fired Lanier after only two seasons, despite improving the program from 10-22 to 20-13 with an NIT appearance this season. The school wanted to make a splash statement as it moves into the ACC, and hiring a sitting Power 5 head coach does that. Enfield has made six out of a possible 12 NCAA Tournaments as a head coach at USC and Florida Gulf Coast, including three consecutive appearances before this season. That includes the Sweet 16 run with FGCU and an Elite Eight with USC in 2021.

But Enfield has never reached the next level of success. He’s never won a regular season conference championship, finishing second four times, and he went 105-100 in Pac-12 play at USC. He’s been knocked out in the NCAA Tournament first round three times. He’s also obviously coming off a disappointing season with the Trojans.

As SMU moves into the ACC, it’s trying to show it deserves to be at the Power 4 level, especially after forgoing nine years of ACC revenue as part of the agreement to come in. The school is more than making up for that with deep-pocketed boosters, but the best way to prove it is by winning. Enfield’s task is to bring legitimacy.

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(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)