University Southern California Trojans
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Jonathan Yim enters his second season as an assistant coach for USC women's basketball, having been named to Lindsay Gottlieb's staff ahead of the 2025-26 season. He brings more than a decade of experience across the NBA, G League and international basketball, including a championship as a head coach in New Zealand.
Yim spent two seasons as head coach of the Southland Sharks of New Zealand's National Basketball League (NZNBL). He took over a program coming off a four-win season, its fourth straight bottom-three finish. In his first season in 2025, he guided the Sharks to a 12–8 record, their first home playoff game in nearly 10 years and a berth in the Grand Final (championship game). In 2026, the Sharks went 16–4 in the regular season and won the NZNBL championship, and Yim was named Southland Coach of the Year. His teams ranked second in the league in offensive rating both seasons, and the 2026 squad made the league's biggest year-over-year improvement on defense, finishing third in defensive rating. Yim finished his tenure 33–13 as the winningest coach in franchise history.
Yim also served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers. He handled the team's defense as the U.S. went 2–0 in the window, with a road win in Chile and a victory over Colombia in Washington, D.C.
Before New Zealand, Yim spent three seasons in the NBA G League as an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers (2021–23) and Greensboro Swarm (2023–24). Known for his offensive expertise, he helped guide South Bay to the G League's top-ranked offense in 2022–23. He also played a key role in player development as the team led the league with 12 NBA call-ups.
Yim's NBA experience includes eight seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers (2013–21). He started as the team's head video coordinator and later became a player development coach. Portland reached the playoffs in all eight of his seasons, which at the time was the longest active playoff streak in the NBA. He began his NBA career with the Los Angeles Clippers as a video intern during their record-setting 56-win season in 2012–13.
A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Yim earned his bachelor's degree in history in 2007. He and his wife, Amanda, have a son, Jack, and are expecting a daughter in December.
