USD Men's Basketball to part ways with head coach Steve Lavin after this season

Lavin will finish a fourth season at the program but won't return next season with the Toreros

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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San Diego coach Steve Lavin will finish a fourth season at the program but won't return next season with the Toreros, the school announced Wednesday. Lavin is just 46-79 at San Diego and his lone winning season came in 2023-24 when it went 18-15. He never led the Toreros to the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

San Diego has had just five winning seasons and one NCAA Tournament appearance under three coaches since Brad Holland was fired after going 18-14 in 2006-07. The school is committed to providing the leadership, NIL and revenue-sharing investment, and student-athlete support necessary to recruit and sustain a roster that makes both USD and the community proud.

The details

Lavin was an NCAA Tournament regular in 12 seasons as coach at UCLA and St. John's, where he was hired away before the 2022 season to take over the struggling program at San Diego. The Toreros are 11-17 headed into Saturday's game at Loyola Marymount, and Lavin's lone winning season came in 2023-24 when the team went 18-15. San Diego is 18-47 under Lavin in the WCC.

  • Lavin will finish a fourth season at the program but won't return next season.
  • The Toreros are 11-17 headed into Saturday's game at Loyola Marymount.
  • The West Coast Conference Tournament begins March 5 in Las Vegas.

The players

Steve Lavin

The head coach of the USD men's basketball team who will not return next season.

Kimya Massey

The athletic director at the University of San Diego who stated the school's commitment to providing the necessary resources to recruit and sustain a roster that makes both USD and the community proud.

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What they’re saying

“Teaching and coaching at the University of San Diego has been an experience of unparalleled pride and joy. Specifically, I will carry forward the gift of participating in our players' journeys and will treasure the relationships forged along the way.”

— Steve Lavin, Head Coach (Times of San Diego)

“Competing in the upper tier of the West Coast Conference and being a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament should be the expectation for this program. We are committed to providing the leadership, NIL and revenue-sharing investment, and student-athlete support necessary to recruit and sustain a roster that makes both USD and the community proud.”

— Kimya Massey, Athletic Director (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

The Toreros have three games left in the regular season, and the West Coast Conference Tournament begins March 5 in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

This change in leadership for the USD men's basketball program signals the school's desire to elevate the team's performance and competitiveness within the West Coast Conference, with the ultimate goal of becoming a regular participant in the NCAA Tournament.