Wanted: Quality Assistant Coaches

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A reader emailed today, “other than needing a job, why would anyone work for Lane Kiffin?”

There is nothing wrong with a staff purge if you make better hires. One problem is the people with high-quality reputations (linebackers coach Joe Barry, wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore) left after the 2011 season with no interest in returning. Why is that?

Hiring someone like Jeff Tedford would be good for the program. And Kiffin would trust him. The question is whether Tedford would enter this shipwreck when he could get an NFL job or sit back and collect $1.8 million in 2013 from Cal.

And here is the other problem, which is the underlying issue at all times: Doesn’t USC deserve to treat itself with the same level of respect as Alabama (Nick Saban) or Ohio State (Urban Meyer). Or even Stanford (David Shaw).

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  • Ben Factor

    Scott, which A-level head coach do you think wants to work at USC in 2013, with two more years of reduced scholarships and rosters? That assertions would give your post real bite. Right now, your lapsing into “Petty Scott.”

    • BearBryant3

      I think coaches would definetly be interested, but they have get away from hiring a old sc player or coach to come back run the program as there only option. Jeff fisher would be great but I don’t think he’s leaving the rams anytime soon.

      • http://www.facebook.com/tom.oday.524 Tom Oday

        Don’t know if I read you correctly, but USC has not hired a old player/alum since 1957-59. They seem to mostly favor ex-small-college players for their HC .

        • BearBryant3

          It just the talk last time usc went for a head coach it was the jack del rio or former assistants at usc that were canidates

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            Like Robinson? McKay? Go Ducks.

    • marvgoux1

      I though we only have one more year of reduced scholarships for signing day 2014?

      • http://www.facebook.com/arturo.barajas.1800 Arturo Barajas

        They aren’t even really reduced next year with 20 slots available.

        • Ben Factor

          In hindsight after the decommitments on NSD, that is true, but the roster will still be 75 or fewer. I referred to hiring someone right after last season. I couldn’t see Haden having LK recruit the 2013 class, and then installing a new HC, and maybe a totally new staff. Bad PR move, confused recruits, etc.

          Based on the NSD decommitments, if Kiffin does not rebound quite a bit in 2013, he becomes a large liability going forward. Haden pretty much will be forced to attempt to change coaches, even with a year of sanctions pending. Not sure if the best candidates would be jumping at the job even then. Just don’t know the coaches mind.

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            When are all of you going to wake up? Haden is the real problem!

          • Gilligan

            @Joe Blow: You are probably correct with your assumption.

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            I know I am. Tell me ONE sport that is BETTER under Haden. None.

          • http://www.facebook.com/tom.oday.524 Tom Oday

            Men’s basketball?

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            From when? Check attendance and record. Program under MG was better……much better.

      • Ben Factor

        marvgoux1, I think that’s right, but I referred to hiring a new HC at the end of the 2012 season. I believe the roster size will be smaller through next season and the one after that. Moreover, even when 25 recruits are permissible for the 2015 season, USC will have a lot of freshmen, not seasoned players. It will probably take at least another year to be “at full strength” on the playing field.

  • Ben Factor

    But I agree about Tedford. Why would he come here? You said he had friction with Pendergast. He was just bought out. You were an actor, right? What’s his motivation?

  • Bru-Crew_UCLA

    Larry, Moe & Curly are available for staffing positions immediately.

    • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

      So is Netanyahu

  • BearBryant3

    Just thought of a name for head coach in 2014 how about lovie smith.

    • Cheap seats

      Why him? What do you think about Hue Jackson?

      While his stint as an OC for USC during the 90′s wasn’t impressive, he shows some flashes at the HC level when he coached the Raiders in 2011.

      • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

        Hue sucks.

        • BearBryant3

          Hue jackson did seem better with raiders, they just seem like they fall apart at the end of the year because they didn’t have a good backup qb and they relied heavy on mcfadden. Believe me I wasn’t sure about him but it may have just been a paul hackett deal not a hue deal. Plus I think hue and lovie both don’t have hc jobs because there is still racism in the nfl hiring process

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            Hue Jackson will not excite the donor/fan base.

          • BearBryant3

            True, but last time people got excited about ogeron and monte kiffin and that didn’t turn out well.

          • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

            True. But we also had sanctions, which threw cold water all over the program.

          • gotroy22

            And he will confuse our young quarterbacks. Carson Palmer couldn’t figure out his West Coast offense.

          • Cheap seats

            I thought that was more Hackett?

            If you look at Hue’s offenses under Robinson and with Cincy, it more run-oriented (power blocking), play action passing. Also would take us back to “student body” left/right.

          • gotroy22

            Didn’t Hue coach with the 49ers when they ran the West Coast?

          • Cheap seats

            I don’t believe with was ever with the 69ers. Check out his bio online. I’d post the link, but WordPress would automatically flag it.

          • gotroy22

            I was going on memory of his connection to Steve Mariucci but you are correct they coached together at Cal before Mooch went to the 49ers.

          • Cheap seats

            Racism probably does have something to do with it. It seems GMs are seeking the Payton-types and assume the Jackson or Smith can’t do X’s and O’s with the best of them.

            Look at Shaw of Stanford. Beats Oregon, wins the Rose Bowl with no Andrew Luck and NADA about him in the press.

        • Gilligan

          I agree Hue would be a bad choice.

      • BearBryant3

        Both might be good, just think lovie can be a great head coach for college. He is defensive coach, he inspires his player and is a players coach. You could definetly see that when so many bear players were upset with his firing.

      • marvgoux1

        Isn’t he a West Coast Offense disciple?

        • Cheap seats

          Under Hackett, yes. However, his later years in the NFL and with John Robinson — no. Power running with play action down the field.

  • Cheap seats

    Again, Scott asking message board posters if they have any info?

    What’s YOUR explanation, Scott?

    There are rumors that Polamolu got slighted when getting word that an OC was going to be added to the staff. He felt he deserved to be next in line for the job.

    Even if this wasn’t a case of simply “hurt feelings,” it would be a good move for Pola’s career especially if he wanted to advance into something higher on a staff. Was he around when Chow or Sark was here? Maybe he can go to their schools?

    On another note, keep in mind that even IF Kiffin hires an offensive coordinator, it doesn’t mean that he will relinquish playcalling duties. When he was HC with the Raiders, he hired Greg Knapp as “offensive coordinator” while Kiffin still called the plays on gameday.

  • Cheap seats

    Again, Scott asking message board posters if they have any info?

    What’s YOUR explanation, Scott?

    There are rumors that Polamolu got slighted when getting word that an OC was going to be added to the staff. He felt he deserved to be next in line for the job.

    Even if this wasn’t a case of simply “hurt feelings,” it would be a good move for Pola’s career especially if he wanted to advance into something higher on a staff. Was he around when Chow or Sark was here? Maybe he can go to their schools?

    On another note, keep in mind that even IF Kiffin hires an offensive coordinator, it doesn’t mean that he will relinquish playcalling duties. When he was HC with the Raiders, he hired Greg Knapp as “offensive coordinator” while Kiffin still called the plays on gameday.

  • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

    OMG, no report on SC’s first Larcrosse game? This is as bad as Jucla Girlyball

    • gotroy22

      Why would Pat Haden pick lacrosse? Do any other colleges within 2000 miles of LA even play it? Why not softball? It’s huge in Southern California and was an Olympic sport. I’d love to see us smack those ruin chicks around and punk them in their big sport.

      • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

        The players like the opera.

  • Gilligan

    I think it might be best for USC to fire Kiffin RIGHT NOW. I would recommend Coach Del Rio, Herm Edwards, Lovie Smith and Coach D. Walker. All of these guys are former NFL coaches that recruits seem to respect.

    Assuming that nothing major is expected from USC why not start the rebuilding process now instead of wasting next year and delaying Kiffin’s firing. I am pretty sure all of the candidates would seriously consider USC if they are offered a five year deal.

    Either coach would have this Spring and Summer to start installing their own system with an early start on the recruiting and evaluation process.

    • marvgoux1

      Makes sense, why go through the torture of watching us struggle with a true freshman quarterback under Kiffin and then he has to learn another system the following year?

    • http://www.facebook.com/tom.oday.524 Tom Oday

      How about treating themselves with respect like mid-level schools such as UC Los Angeles just did. From what I’ve seen/heard from him as a analyst on the tube, Edwards would be a tremendous hire as HC. Fire and brimstone…with all these primadonnas.

    • gotroy22

      You make too much sense.

    • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

      All you mentioned are boring

      • Gilligan

        Pete Carroll was viewed as a boring choice and he did a pretty good job. I really like Herm Edwards b/c he performed better than expected with the NY Jets. The NY area media is a beast and he handle himself pretty well. I think he would be a great recruiter and he has a good defensive background.

        • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

          Zzzzzzz. He’s a dud

        • http://twitter.com/b_191bmiller B.Miller

          Charlie Strong from Louisville if he would be willing to leave

  • USCDDS

    The title of this blog should have been “Wanted: Quaility HEAD COACH”

    Answer: Charlie Strong! He would have left this year for Auburn or Tenn, but he wants to stick around for one more year as Teddy Bridgewater makes his Heisman run. USC should offer the moon to this guy…great coaching pedigree, great recruiter, and great game-day coach.

    • BearBryant3

      Sound also good to me

    • http://twitter.com/FatBooster Joe Blow

      Charlie who?

    • Gilligan

      I really like Charlie Strong but I think he is going to stay closer to the Southeast. I was shocked he didn’t take the Tennessee or Arkansas job. I’ve read that he is very interested in the Texas job especially since there are rumors that Mack Brown is going to step down within the next two years.

  • http://twitter.com/b_191bmiller B.Miller

    YOU DO REALIZE THAT NO QUALITY COACH IS GOING TO COME DUE TO THE SANCTIONS.. Enough with the lets fire Kiffin, he is the HC of the USC Trojans for the 2013 season.. Now lets move on, and stop going over the same SH*T over and over again!