Swanson announces plans for volleyball program
USC men's basketball coach Darrin Horn spent some time searching for a new assistant after Orlando Early left the program in April to reunite with former colleague and new N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried in Raleigh.
In the end, Horn didn't go far to find Early's replacement.
Horn announced last week that Cypheus Bunton, who served as a Gamecock assistant during Horn's first two seasons prior to becoming the team's director of player development, will move back to the bench.
"After assessing the needs of our coaching staff and our team, I feel that Cypheus is the best fit for our assistant coach position," said Horn in a release. "He provides continuity for our players; he is someone who believes in our system and in the University of South Carolina. Those are the things we most needed in that role moving forward."
Additionally, Horn named Josh Phelps the new director of basketball operations. Phelps, who established the All-American Junior College Showcase in Las Vegas, has previously been a part of the staff at Kent State.
"Justin will be a great addition to our staff," Horn said. "He has great organizational and administrative skills and a wealth of experience in those areas."
Volleyball announces schedule: As first-year coach Scott Swanson goes about rebuilding the volleyball program, he'll do so by spending a good amount of time inside the Palmetto State.
USC will play 17 of 30 matches in South Carolina — 14 of which will come at home in the Volleyball Competition Facility.
"Our 2011 schedule will be challenging for our young team, but that is how you learn about yourselves by being pushed to your limits," said Swanson in a release. "I believe in this team because they work hard and want to do the right things on and off the court, and that can take us a long way if we stay healthy and focused. I feel that our preseason schedule is set up for some success if we are focused and mentally ready to compete. The strenuous SEC schedule will be an exciting journey for us, and we will strive to improve our performance each and every week."
Notable matches include a trip to Philadelphia to face Temple, Montana and Stony Brook in the Temple Invitational in late August and the annual rivalry match against Clemson, occurring on Sept. 9 during the Carolina Challenge tournament inside Charleston's Carolina First Arena.
Quick hits: USC assistant men's golf coach Michael Burcin will assist on the Team USA staff at the 2011 Palmer Cup, which begins later this month in Greenwich, Conn.
USC softball finished its first season under coach Beverly Smith at 26-30 overall with a 6-22 record in SEC play — a 15-game improvement overall and five-win overall conference improvement from the disastrous 2010 season, the final under longtime coach Joyce Compton.