NMSU women’s basketball coach Mark Trakh leaving to return to USC

For the third time this month a local college basketball coach is leaving the Borderland.

This time, it’s NMSU women’s head basketball coach Mark Trakh.

Trakh is headed back to Southern California to coach the USC Trojans for the second time, the school confirmed. He coached USC for five years from 2004-2009.

Trakh joins former NMSU men’s coach Paul Weir and former UTEP women’s coach Keitha Adams in the decision to leave for another school. All three have left within a span of three weeks.

The Aggies enjoyed great success under Mark Trakh, especially in the last three season.

Trakh led NMSU to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, coming very close to knocking off Stanford in the first round of last year’s tournament.

Last season Trakh also led the Aggies to a program-record 17 consecutive wins and a perfect record in WAC play. He also helped the Aggies defeat UTEP and New Mexico last season, something that hadn’t been accomplished in a single season in 21 years.

Trakh was named the WAC Coach of the Year each of the past three seasons as well.

He led the USC Trojans to a 90-64 record in his first stint with the team. USC athletic director Lynn Swann released the following statement following the hiring of Trakh:

“It was important for us to hire a coach who really wanted to be at USC, who truly cares about our student-athletes and who believes in the Trojan way of excelling. We found that coach in Mark Trakh. He has the experience and maturity to help our young team grow and develop.”