The USC football coaching search will have consequence on the rest of the college football coaching searches this offseason. USC will be the first domino to fall, ahead of Illinois, Maryland, South Carolina (Miami and Virginia could be next) and everybody else.
Even though he whiffed very badly on his last two hires, USC A.D. Pat Haden will get the opportunity to make the next head coaching hire.
Here’s the latest on the USC football coaching search, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network
“It’s is one of the few college coaching jobs that are expected to get some NFL interest. The early speculation did center around John Harbaugh but my understanding is there are two other NFL coaches that are on USC’s list. First of all, Chip Kelly. Of course the Eagles’ coach had so much success in college. I’m told he would have some interest in the USC job, although a source close to him points out Chip Kelly really likes to be liked and wanted so that may be driving some of his interest. Here is maybe a more important name: Sean Payton from the Saints. I am told that USC does have some interest in him, would not be surprised if they contacted him.
“Remember, Payton would like to see his kids; he goes to Dallas to see his son play football every weekend. His daughter goes to school at Pepperdine so there would be some family ties. I am also told after this year, Payton is expected to consider other opportunities.”
Chip Kelly would make a ton of sense as it doesn’t seem like he’s long for the NFL. He appears to have the type of personality that would flourish more in a totalitarian type of system. Philadelphia has let do both the cooking and the shopping, but only in college can you really get away with that.
As for Payton, I’m not sure he really wants to end up in the college ranks, where he’ll have to recruit. It takes a special kind of personality to do that job. We acquired the opinion of a second NFL Network personality, NFL AM co-host Erin Coscarelli, on the USC football coaching search.
She’s a USC grad, Los Angeles born and raised, who has covered the team in the past. Coscarelli appeared on The Sports Bank’s podcast, the “Maximus and the Bartender” show.
Take a listen below, as Coscarelli had some great insights into the USC football coaching search.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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