Mick Haley Out As USC Women’s Volleyball Coach After 17 Seasons

Mick Haley will not return as USC women’s volleyball coach, according to athletic director Lynn Swann. This was anticipated throughout the season as Swann keeps making changes to the lower-profile sports.

Swann has replaced the women’s basketball, rowing, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball coaches. Of course, he has yet to pull the trigger on a major sport (football, men’s basketball), which means no criticism over who he might hire.

“As we transition into the future of USC women’s volleyball, the outlook is strong,” Swann said in a statement. “The talent level is high both on our returning roster and with our incoming signees.  We expect a new coach to build off of the success of this past season.”

Haley was 435-119 (.785) in 17 seasons (2001-17), with two NCAA championships (2002-03), six NCAA Final Four appearances and 17 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

95 thoughts on “Mick Haley Out As USC Women’s Volleyball Coach After 17 Seasons

  1. Great move by Swann. Haley, once great, was old and past his prime and USC needed new blood to get the program back to the NC level. USC just totally choked their way to a 2-3 game loss to UF and this was all about Haley’s lack of coaching strength at this stage of the game.

    The fact that Swann is paying such close attention to all of USC’s sports shows how demanding he is and is a great sign he has no intention of letting USC football slide.

    • The USC Coaching Staff has a record the past two years that is the envy of the Nations College Football Programs. John B still posting Crap about Coach Helton’s coaching, his Staff, and his Football Program. John B, consider Helton’s overall accomplishments summarized above by schammer47, and think before you post this Crap next time.

      • I like coach Helton and his record. You should learn how to read.

        And USC’s record is not the envy of the college football world. That distinction belongs to ALA and CLEM. You should watch more college football so you don’t say such stupid crap.

      • Actually schammer, Jack has been quite the defender of the staff and program as a whole of late..and always a willing participant in serious discussion of anything other than ruin sports, which he despises vehemently. And Jack has quite often gone out of his way to promote the team and it’s record as one of the most exciting ever, albeit perhaps one of the more frustrating at the same time..

        • When I first read schammer’s post, I was at a complete loss to fathom what he was talking about. Glad to see others were just as confused.

          • You certainly have been on board, Jack. Not sure if some of the negative on this board didn’t just overwhelm him lately, and he read more into your post than was there.

        • Pudly76, I bet you are right. I read something in Jack B’s post that wasn’t there. A pathetic overreaction. I apologize, Jack B. Hope it’s not my advanced age that caused this.

          • Glad you’re forthright enough to say so..and I suspected as much. I have had my moments, trust me.. most of us hope for the best for our team and school, although there are a few whose agendas are more important than the team itself..
            I’m sure Jack realizes you good intent.

    • Quote from Haley’s attorney:

      “He believes he was terminated not only because of his age, but in retaliation for him filing an age-discrimination complaint with USC, which he did before they fired him.

      • Wow. Too bad it’s gonna go down like this. All USC has to do is show the last 15 minutes of the USC/UF choke job and Haley’s case is dust.

          • I wondered if change was afoot, though I didn’t know before I wikied Haley that he was seventy-freakin-four!

            USC’s good in women’s VB but we could be great with a better coach – like we are in the sand.

            I say Swann is smart to make the switch now. Glad to see he’s on the job. No doubt Haley’s super competitive and doesn’t want to go out like this. Don’t blame him, but USC can do better now. Nice run. It’s over.

      • For goodness sakes, the Man is 74 years old. Gabby, I’m 70 years old. it’s been 25 years since I was able to run up and down stairs. 30 years since I was able to dunk a basketball. Gabby, between you and me, running those stadium steps was nothing more than human torture. Coaches get away with it, especially the good ones.

    • Mary Wise totally out coached Haley.
      Florida was flat going into 4th ,caught fire and Haley never adjusted.
      Women’s VB is a great sport. Team like Nebraska avg nearly 9000 people a match.
      The game has changed greatly over last 10 years.
      With exception if Stanford, West coast teams haven’t kept up with advancements.
      Especially in training area.

      • Nebraska has scouts at almost every event, at least they were all over during my daughter’s club playing days..seemed like they knew and knew of everyone in those days

        • Was deeply involved in the sport from early 70’s to mid 2000’s.
          During my daughter’s club years .I was the head of board for a national top 5 club San Diego. Had over 40 girls in that period receive scholarships.
          Meet many times with recruters and parents, players .
          Once with niece of Junior #55, Junior and parents ,Nebraska .She ended up at Nebraska.
          Junior was a frequent visitor to club,along with others.
          What our philosophy was to place young ladies in colleges that had best opportunities for women after college. Ivy league and smaller schools were always the top.

          • My daughter played for a Mavericks team that did pretty well, and all the girls on her team went on also..it wasn’t the size club you had, but this team did well…Phil was a relentless coach.

          • Did you watch the college Beach championship this year. Fantastic on TV.
            Trojan Women national Champion. What was that obscure school we beat?

          • The Socal community high.Northern California. Stanford. Out of State we are viewed so so.
            Volleyball rivals basketball nationally in Womens.
            So many programs can offer as much, and more than us.
            Of course our education is excellent.

          • Indoor VB has many strong regions.Schools outside of California have devoted a lot of resources to the sport.
            Club is the development for college not HS.
            Thousands watch matches at schools outside of California.
            But don’t forget Beach. !!! We have the top program in country. NATIONAL CHAMPS.
            What other sport is played both inside and out in college? (Track )
            Skills don’t always translate indoors to out.
            The Beach championship last season was incredible. That sport will grow more than any other in college next 5 years.

          • I saw the finals. Amazing. We had those two gals who were literally unbeatable. Hope we can keep it up. Seems like our coach is pretty revered in the sand game.

          • We will be at top for many years. It is fastest growing college sport now.
            Anna is excellent coach. Here one is coaching and pairing teams. Strategy is much different.

          • Yes we did.Yet what really pulled it for us were victory by lower seeds.
            That was amazing wasn’t it.Was so excited to see it develop.
            What is unique , the pioneers of the sport are still around.
            Talked with two of the best in history. Both were in tears seeing it come to the level it is now.

          • The girls were funny to watch engage on the P12 Network too. Pure college, yet when on the court they were like Olympic competitors.

          • Great observation. That’s the beauty of the sport. Exactly why Kerri Walsh is one of the most liked women international.
            She had her own cheering section of Men’s pro basketball players at Olympic games led by Durant

          • I hope CH has someone good in mind. I know these pre-game speech deals probably don’t mean diddly in the overall scheme.

            There’s only one pre-game speech I can remember from HS days and I have no idea if we won or lost. But we were sure one fired-up bunch and I still, after all these years, remember some of the exact words he said in that short, almost quiet pre-game talk. It was all about our respect for him and the desire to win. Unforgettable days.

            Bring on Kerri. Maybe Swann can wrangle in Terry Bradshaw, though he might generate more laughter than anything.

          • Will be very interesting. Christmas in Dallas. Think seniors will up the leadership roles last game of Trojan career. Both teams have statement to make…Clay will build it each day,until game. Trojan greats will be around..Curious of past players who would be greatest pre game motivator.

          • How about Rollo at Mater Dei? Just kidding.

            He might win the HS NC tonight against De La Salle. He was at SC when I was. He came out of Mater Dei as a prep hot shot but only lettered in ’71. I think he partied too much and SC was loaded.

            Good luck to the Monarchs tonight. I think it’s gonna be Rollo’s retirement game from what’s out there.

          • You mentioned 71 football. I graduated in 69. Greatest HS player I ever say was Isaac Curtis.I had forgotten about the game tonight. .thanks I’ll record it.

      • The loss was brutal with USC going on a 3-11 run to lose it after having all the cards at 8-4. I just happened to turn on the last game and thought we really had ’em. Then suddenly, USC went dark like a light switch and you could feel it coming.

        Sounds like you know a lot about the sport. Please let us know when we make the new hire if the person is good or who you think we should have gone after.

        • Love the sport. Played it, coached it.Watched and cherished years my daughter played.
          Have been out of coaching circle for 10 yrs. now.
          Couldn’t say who are top available coaches. However we might want to look at some who have international experience.
          Our best players head overseas to make a good living. As do some of the coaches.

          • That seems like it would be tough to stop. Kind of like our baseball team’s problem. Some programs, even private, seem to deal with it a lot better than others.

          • Exactly. Usc men’s at one time I think had 8-10 rides.Now it may have only 4.Much like baseball.
            I know of at least 4 San diego young ladies that had offers from USC.3 went to small schools .It wasn’t about playing time. It was about opportunities after graduation

      • He used to be. But at 74, not so much. SC hasn’t won a NC in the sport, or even appeared in a final, since ’03. STAN has kind of taken over out here.

  2. He should be gone. There is no reason for our volleyball programs to be as bad as they have been in recent years. When Nebraska, Penn St etc have better teams than USC, it’s time for a change

    • NEB (4 total NCs, shooting for #5) and PSU (6 NCs since ’07, 7 total) have ALWAYS been big women’s volleyball powers. USC only has 3 all-time. and 2 since ’02.

      Think before you post crap next time.

  3. Tonight on Spectrum Sports, the dodgers station, the MD vs DLS State Championship game is on featuring our DT recruit from DLS Tupi Letuligasenoa (there’s a mouthful) going against a very good MD O-line and of course JT Daniels and AmonRa StBrown.

    • What time?
      We just lost the first game, came back and won the second, and play another at 5:15. Long day but they will up.

          • Yeah, I’ve had long club days too, between one in waterpolo and one in volleyball seemed like we’re all over the state and country..gotta love it

          • You were running around all the time i imagine, but sounds like it payed off with them going to school. Our HS just added water polo about 3 years ago when they the new football, basketball gym, baseball fields, pools at the “New” Banning High that I graduated from in 2000.
            It took them 12 or so years to get all that. We have always s*cked at volleyball. But I’m happy that we aren’t the team in Leaugue with the old fields, gym, etc anymore.

          • My girls seemed to enjoy having their plates full..me, well let’s just say I’d have enjoyed a nice swim at the beach a couple of those weekends, at least I thought so at the time. But looking back now I wouldn’t trade those days for all the tea in China.

      • Triple header, now that’s dedication Sam. Enjoy it while you can, time slips away quickly.

        • Sure does. They didn’t have travel ball or these opportunities like this when I was younger so I’m a little jealous at times. But i am definitely enjoying these times. He’s playing and having fun now because he likes it now. At first I had to damn near bribe him to play LOL!. His cousin’s a year older and was asked to play also but his mom said no thank you right away, didn’t even ask the kid to see if he would want to play or not, the river/glamis was all she had on her mind and that’s not right in my opinion. I think later she is going regret that. But yeah it’s a one day tournament and the games have all been good so it’s not so bad.

  4. It is ironic that Haley was fired after this season. He did take one of his lesser teams to the elite eight although they were one pt. away from the final four. He is not the best in game coaching losing too many times in the semis to likes of Illinois, Cal, Minnesota (@LB State arena), and especially tough loss to UW at Galen Ctr. after winning the first two sets in regional final. His two national titles were with almost all the players from previous coach ( Jared Eliot ))
    now at Texas. Haley from what I have heard has a top recruiting class for 2018 to how it will be affected remains to be seen. What was bad was this freshman class produced no hitters to help Lanier.
    Hopefully no one from this staff will be promoted by Swann. U. of San Diego has a good coach who forced the Trojans to five sets playing at the Galen Ctr.

  5. USC has had 13 transfers in 5 years. That should speak volumes to the culture in the program.

  6. This strikes me as bush league by Swann. This has become a widely unpopular decision in the VB community. There better be a much better explanation than that he is 74. I hate the way this was handled and don’t have any respect for Swann. Get on Volleytalk if you want to see how this has gone over.

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