ATLANTA – In the middle of trying to prepare Syracuse for its Final Four matchup with Michigan, Mike Hopkins learned he won’t be getting the chance to become a head coach in his native southern California.

Hopkins interviewed for the Southern California head coach opening last month, and was considered a strong candidate. But that was before Florida Gulf Coast went on a run through the NCAA Tournament before falling to Florida in the Sweet 16, sending head coach Andy Enfield into the national spotlight.

The Trojans took notice, and hired Enfield to be their head coach late Monday night. In Syracuse’s Georgia Dome locker room on Friday, Hopkins said it was a “great process” despite the outcome of USC’s coaching search.

“Obviously it didn’t work out, but I’ve got a great thing at Syracuse,” Hopkins said. “I’m focused on winning this national championship and hopefully winning another one.”

Hopkins is head coach Jim Boeheim’s eventual successor. Boeheim said Tuesday there isn’t anyone Southern California could’ve hired that would’ve been better than Hopkins.

But the Trojans went with Enfield instead. Hopkins will remain as Syracuse’s head coach in waiting.