USC Parts Ways With Women's Soccer Coach
USC Athletics announced it has separated from women's soccer head coach Jane Alukonis after five seasons, and the program has begun a national search for her replacement.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Soccer
USC Athletics parted ways with women's soccer Head Coach Jane Alukonis on Friday, ending her five-season tenure. The program has begun a national search for a new head coach.
Why it matters
The separation follows a difficult 2026 season in which USC posted its fewest wins since the program's 1993 inaugural season and its worst conference record in program history. The decision leaves the Trojans searching for new leadership in the Big Ten.
Alukonis compiled a 50-26-19 overall record over five seasons, while the 2026 team finished 2-10-6, down from a .500 record in 2025. The announcement did not specify the reasons for the separation or when a successor will be named.
The players
USC Athletics
The athletics department of the University of Southern California, which oversees the Trojans' intercollegiate sports programs, including women's soccer.
Jane Alukonis
The former head coach of USC women's soccer who led the program for five seasons and guided it to a Big Ten title in its first conference year.
The details
USC Athletics released a statement on Friday afternoon announcing the separation from Alukonis, who led the program to its first Big Ten title two years ago in its first season in the conference. The school began its search for a new coach immediately, looking nationally for candidates.
Timeline
Two years before 2026: Alukonis led USC to its first Big Ten title in its first conference season.
2025: The Trojans finished the season with a .500 record.
2026: USC went 2-10-6, its fewest wins since 1993.
Friday, November 6, 2026: USC Athletics announced Alukonis's departure.
Season Trajectory
Alukonis led USC to its first Big Ten title in 2024, its first season in the conference, before the program's sharp decline to a 2-10-6 record in 2026. The coaching change comes as the Trojans look to reset a program that had reached the top of the conference only two years earlier.
The coaching vacancy means USC women's soccer fans will not know the 2027 staff until a new coach is hired, and the team's roster and recruiting plans will depend on that hire. Fans following the Big Ten should watch for the school's announcement of its next head coach.
The takeaway
A coaching change after a difficult season often reshapes a program's recruiting and competitive direction, so the identity of USC's next coach will matter for the Trojans' future in the Big Ten. Readers tracking the program should watch for the hire's announcement.
Further reading
For more on the local sports scene, explore Soccer coverage across Los Angeles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Trojan.
