On Garza
USC coach Lane Kiffin hired former Tennessee assistant Willie Mack Garza on Friday for the Trojans' coaching staff.
Kiffin did not announce Garza's role but he coached defensive backs at Tennessee last season and always worked with the secondary in previous coaching jobs. The move could spell the departure of current USC secondary coach Rocky Seto, unless Kiffin moves him to linebackers.
When he was hired, Kiffin said his coaching staff would be, ``the best staff in America,'' and said he would not name coaching candidates ``out of respect to colleges and NFL programs.''
So far, all of his hirings are from Tennessee.
Garza, 40, is the fourth Tennessee assistant to join Kiffin's staff along with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, defensive line coach Ed Orgeron and offensive line coach James Cregg.
So...did Tennessee have "the best staff in America", or does nobody really want to join Kiffin's staff?
May not be the "best staff in America,' but it beats PC's last staff.
Best in America maybe. Best in LA absolutely.
He's a solid addition to the coaching staff who has alot of ties to the state of Texas. I think Seto probably will coach the LB's next year but will see. I nominate Derrick Brooks as the new LB coach! With his ties to Monte Kiffin and the Tampa 2 defense that would be the shit! Probably won't happen....but would be nice! :)
Seto got left twisting in the wind and is probably wishing he went to Washington with Sark. As "DC" he got alot of the blame for 2009 defensive woes when Carroll really ran the show. At the same time, his additional duties probably took time away from him actually coaching his position players. The same thing probably happened with Norton and therefore the LBs were out of position alot and couldn't tackle. Except Carroll took Norton with him to Seattle.
"Seto got left twisting in the wind and is probably wishing he went to Washington with Sark."
I doubt Seto has any regrets. Carroll took him from grad asst. to DC, which is a great career start. Seto hasn't coached a down anywhere but USC, let alone the NFL. So I suspect Carroll felt he wasn't qualified for a position with the Seahawks. As for Sark and UW, the coaching profession (CFB and NFL) isn't suited to those who fret about hindsight...or criticism. The life entails many job changes and moves. Those who aren't up to it should sell insurance.
Seto is connected. If he can coach, he will be fine.
Jag -- I wasn't saying Seto is qualified to be in the NFL... just saying if he compared being in a "stable" position right now with Washington or doing the one year stint as "DC" at SC and now wondering what's next, I think he would have gone to Washington. Not thinking about past choices only works in theory and when you've made your millions.
Seto reached his level of incompetence last year. (The Peter Principle strikes again.) If he can accept a step back, his life would be much better.