Harry Gossnell sues coach Eric Musselman
8 october 2026 в 05:37
The head coach of the University of Southern California men’s basketball team, Eric Musselman, has filed a lawsuit following a conflict with treasure hunter Gary Gosnell on Manhattan Beach in September. Gosnell claims that the altercation resulted in «serious emotional and psychological distress» and «significant deterioration of his health», - according to court documents obtained by California Post.
The incident occurred on September 13 and was captured on video as Gosnell, 57, was live-streaming for his YouTube channel «Gary's Metal Detecting». The footage shows him walking past a group attempting to take a team photo for USC. Following this, a university staff member began arguing with him, joined by Musselman, 61, who started to insult Gosnell.
The lawsuit alleges that Musselman «approached within approximately sixty feet on the sand to Mr. Gosnell, shouting obscenities, and came directly to Mr. Gosnell’s face». Musselman allegedly yelled at Gosnell to «shut up», - called him a «jerk», - and threatened that «someone should teach him a lesson».
Gosnell explained that he was simply passing by and intended to leave as soon as he finished his business, noting that it is a public beach. The lawsuit also states that Gosnell has undergone three spinal surgeries, one knee surgery, and four surgeries on his legs, and holds a disabled parking permit.
The day after the incident, attorneys for former USC player Chad Baker-Mazara filed a lawsuit on his behalf regarding another incident in which Musselman allegedly launched an «abusive, racist tirade» in the locker room after a game before dismissing him from the team last season.
Gosnell has also filed a lawsuit against USC, believing that the university should have better monitored Musselman in light of Baker-Mazara's allegations. The lawsuit claims that the university «should have been aware of Musselman’s propensity for unprovoked, rude, hostile, and intimidating remarks towards others».
Gosnell is seeking «compensatory damages, punitive damages, statutory damages and civil penalties, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs». Musselman has not commented on the lawsuit but, in a statement to California Post, apologized for the incident after the video was published. He noted that he is aware of the responsibilities that come with his role and that he «definitely should have handled the situation better and learned from it in the future».
The incident occurred on September 13 and was captured on video as Gosnell, 57, was live-streaming for his YouTube channel «Gary's Metal Detecting». The footage shows him walking past a group attempting to take a team photo for USC. Following this, a university staff member began arguing with him, joined by Musselman, 61, who started to insult Gosnell.
The lawsuit alleges that Musselman «approached within approximately sixty feet on the sand to Mr. Gosnell, shouting obscenities, and came directly to Mr. Gosnell’s face». Musselman allegedly yelled at Gosnell to «shut up», - called him a «jerk», - and threatened that «someone should teach him a lesson».
Gosnell explained that he was simply passing by and intended to leave as soon as he finished his business, noting that it is a public beach. The lawsuit also states that Gosnell has undergone three spinal surgeries, one knee surgery, and four surgeries on his legs, and holds a disabled parking permit.
The day after the incident, attorneys for former USC player Chad Baker-Mazara filed a lawsuit on his behalf regarding another incident in which Musselman allegedly launched an «abusive, racist tirade» in the locker room after a game before dismissing him from the team last season.
Gosnell has also filed a lawsuit against USC, believing that the university should have better monitored Musselman in light of Baker-Mazara's allegations. The lawsuit claims that the university «should have been aware of Musselman’s propensity for unprovoked, rude, hostile, and intimidating remarks towards others».
Gosnell is seeking «compensatory damages, punitive damages, statutory damages and civil penalties, as well as attorney’s fees and court costs». Musselman has not commented on the lawsuit but, in a statement to California Post, apologized for the incident after the video was published. He noted that he is aware of the responsibilities that come with his role and that he «definitely should have handled the situation better and learned from it in the future».
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
