Former USC players fill the coaching ranks of all levels
By Ricky Cambier
USCRipsIt
PeteCarroll.com
Many Trojans, when they’re collegiate playing days are over, move on to the NFL and enjoy successful careers on the field.
There’s also a stunning roster of former USC players who have joined the coaching fraternity, whether directly out of college or following a professional playing career. Find out all about the illustrious list of some Trojan-trained coaches:
Mike Holmgren is in his 10th season as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. He has posted a record of 72-56 while in his current position and won five division titles along with one NFC championship in 2005. Holmgren recently announced this will be his final season coaching the Seahawks. Prior to coaching the Seahawks, Holmgren served as assistant coach for BYU and the San Francisco 49ers before becoming head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers.
Jeff Fisher is currently the longest-tenured NFL head coach after being with the Tennessee Titans for 14 years now. He has an overall record of 105-93 with two division championships and one heartbreaking Super Bowl loss. Fisher spent three years playing for the Chicago Bears after being drafted in the seventh round in 1981.
Jack Del Rio enjoyed a successful NFL career, playing with five teams during an 11-year career. He was the 68th overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 1985 draft and played in the 1994 Pro Bowl. Following his playing career, he became an assistant coach with New Orleans and is currently in his sixth year as head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kennedy Pola is the running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pola was a teammate of Jack Del Rio at USC and coached for the Trojans from 2000 to 2003. He has also spent time coaching for UCLA, San Diego State, Colorado and the Cleveland Browns.
Rocky Seto graduated from USC in 1999 and has been an assistant coach for the Trojans ever since. He currently coaches the secondary and played linebacker for USC in 1997-98.
Mark Carrier is currently the secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens. Prior to that he played 10 seasons in the NFL after being the sixth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. He spent two years as the defensive backs coach at Arizona State before accepting his current position with Baltimore.
Mosi Tatupu enjoyed a distinguished 15-year playing career with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams. He made the 1986 Pro Bowl and currently serves as running backs coach for Division III Curry College in Miton, Mass.
Sam Anno is currently the special teams coach for Central Connecticut State. He played in the NFL for six years before becoming an assistant coach for several L.A. area high schools. He was on the USC coaching staff from 2005 to 2007.
Mike Sanford began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at in 1977. He then became assistant coach for several professional and collegiate teams before becoming head coach at UNLV in 2004. UNLV is currently 1-0 in his fourth season as head coach.
Pat Morris is the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to coaching the Vikings, Morris coached for the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions and at the college football level at USC, Northern Arizona, the University of Minnesota, Michigan State and Stanford.
Pat O’Hara played professionally in three different leagues before becoming a coach. He began coaching at the high school level and currently is the head coach of the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. O’Hara has also appeared in The Waterboy, Any Given Sunday and The Gameplan.
Brad Banta is currently a special teams coach with the Detroit Lions. Banta graduated from USC in 1993 and was drafted by Indianapolis in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
DeChon Burns is the defensive line coach at UTEP. He previously served as interim head coach for Texas Southern and also coached with the Washington Redskins and University of Florida.
Hudson Houck is currently the offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys and has been coaching since getting his start at USC in 1966. Houck has been an assistant coach with six NFL teams and two collegiate teams during his career.
DelVaughn Alexander is a receivers coach at the University of Wisconsin. Prior to that, he coached at the University of San Diego, Oregon State and UNLV.
Kris Richard is currently a secondary graduate assistant for USC. He played professionally for the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons before going to the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.
• Ricky Cambier is the student assistant for USCRipsIt/PeteCarroll.com. You can contact him at Ricky@PeteCarroll.com.
