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USC’s Eric Musselman confronted beach treasure hunter during team photo session
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- USC’s Eric Musselman confronted beach treasure hunter during team photo session
The USC Trojans basketball program has had an eventful week. While taking team pictures on Sunday the coaching staff got into it with someone using a metal detector on the beach. Then on Monday a lawsuit was filed against the school and coach Eric Musselman by former player Chad Baker-Mazara.
Baker-Mazara was dismissed from the team and his NIL agreements were terminated after a loss to Nebraska that effectively eliminated them from NCAA Tournament contention last season. The team said Baker-Mazara had violated a "morals clause." In his lawsuit, Baker-Mazara accuses Musselman of going on a "racist rant," according to the California Post :
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Musselman began yelling at the team, and when Baker-Mazara "attempted to address his teammates by saying 'Hey guys!,' Coach Musselman erupted at Baker-Mazara, screaming: 'You shut the f—k up! You are one of the worst teammates anyone can ever have!'," according to the suit.
"Wow Coach, do you need me to leave," Baker-Mazara allegedly responded, "because I don't understand this animosity."
Baker-Mazara claimed Musselman then told him, "Yes, leave! Go back to the f—king Dominican Republic! Nobody wants you here!! F—k you!"
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Musselman confronts man on beach
NCAA Basketball: Southern California at Michigan
Jan 2, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Eric Musselman reacts in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The day before the lawsuit was filed Musselman was caught on video in a separate altercation. This time with a streamer on a beach.
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The USC basketball team was in Manhattan Beach taking pictures under a pier on Sunday. During the photoshoot a man with a camera and metal detector walked by on the public beach. As seen in the video below, two people from the team confronted the man. One person argued with the man and then eventually, a second person who was wearing a USC t-shirt who was the California Post has identified as Musselman stepped in. They both threatened the man who pointed out he was streaming on YouTube at the time
California Post obtained video showing USC basketball coach Eric Musselman in a heated altercation with a beach treasure hunter. The confrontation occurred just one day before a former player leveled serious allegations against Musselman, adding to a turbulent stretch surrounding… pic.twitter.com/cuKcBTaavg
— California Post Sports (@capostsports) September 16, 2026
Musselman is 35-32 at USC.
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