Ken Norton Jr. - Linebackers
Ken Norton Jr., one of the premier linebackers in NFL and collegiate history, is in his fourth year on the USC staff, including his third as a full-time assistant working with the linebackers (he was promoted in February of 2005). He spent his first year at USC as a graduate assistant (helping with the linebackers) after joining the Trojan staff in February of 2004.
In 2006, linebackers Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga made the All-Pac-10 first team.
In 2005, Maualuga was a Freshman All-American first teamer.
In 2004, linebackers Matt Grootegoed and Lofa Tatupu were named All-American first teamers (Grootegoed also was a Butkus Award finalist and Tatupu was a NFL second round pick). The Trojans won the national championship.
USC played in the 2005 Orange Bowl (BCS Championship Game), 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS Championship Game) and 2007 Rose Bowl.
Norton Jr., 40, spent 13 years playing in the NFL, first with the Dallas Cowboys for 6 seasons (1988-93) and then 7 years with the San Francisco 49ers (1994-2000). The All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection is the only player in history to play on 3 consecutive Super Bowl-winning teams (the Cowboys in 1992 and 1993 and the 49ers in 1994).
After retiring from the NFL, he was a radio and television commentator and analyst, including on the NFL Network.
He also served as the defensive coordinator at Hamilton High in Los Angeles in 2003.
He was the Cowboys' second round NFL draft pick in 1988 after earning All-American honors at UCLA in 1987. He lettered 4 seasons (1984-87) with the Bruins and was a finalist for the 1987 Butkus Award. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from UCLA in 1998.
He prepped at Westchester (Calif.) High.
Born Sept. 29, 1966, he and his wife, Angela, have 3 children: daughters Brittney, 20, and Sabrina, 12, and son Ken III, 10. His father, Ken Sr., is the former world heavyweight boxing champion and played football at Northeast Missouri State.
BIRTHDAY: Sept. 29, 1966
FAMILY: Wife, Angela; Daughters, Brittney, 20, and Sabrina, 12; Son, Ken III, 10
HIGH SCHOOL: Westchester (Calif.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, sociology, UCLA, 1998
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Westcheser (Calif.) HS
UCLA, linebacker, 1984-87
Dallas Cowboys, linebacker, 1988-93
San Francisco 49ers, linebacker, 1994-2000
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 4 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2006 | USC | Linebackers | Rose |
| 2005 | USC | Linebackers | Rose |
| 2004 | USC | Def. Asst./Linebackers | Orange |
| 2003 | Hamilton HS | Assistant Coach | ----- |
