Five possible candidates for the USC coaching vacancy

Now that Clay Helton has been relieved of his duties astatine USC, who volition beryllium the adjacent Trojan shot coach? Here’s a look astatine immoderate imaginable candidates (in alphabetical order):

Matt Campbell

Current job: Iowa State caput manager since 2016

Previous 3 jobs: Toledo caput manager (2012-2015), Toledo violative coordinator (2010-2011), Toledo violative enactment manager (2009)

Head coaching record: 71-44

Analysis: Campbell has won 3 of the past 4 Big 12 Coach of the Year awards, including successful 2020 aft finishing arsenic the runner-up successful the Big 12 and beating Oregon successful the Fiesta Bowl. That’s nary tiny feat astatine Iowa State, which finished beneath .500 successful the six seasons anterior to his arrival. Campbell has worked successful the Midwest his full career, truthful determination are questions astir however helium would acceptable connected the West Coast. But fixed the Big 12’s uncertain fiscal concern pursuing the looming departures of Oklahoma and Texas, it mightiness marque consciousness for Campbell to question greener pastures.

Tony Elliott

Current job: Clemson violative coordinator/associate caput manager since 2015

Previous 3 jobs: Clemson moving backs manager (2011-2014), Furman wide receivers manager (2008-2010), South Carolina State wide receivers manager (2006-2007)

Analysis: Elliott is the lone manager connected this database without caput coaching experience, which is simply a sizeable hurdle erstwhile it comes to landing a occupation of USC’s status. He’s spent the past 21 years successful the authorities of South Carolina, but helium is simply a California autochthonal who has had occurrence recruiting successful the region, and he’s been an integral portion of helping crook Clemson into a nationalist power. He has seen that benignant of civilization built up astatine 1 programme and could usage that acquisition to pb a rebuild astatine USC.

Luke Fickell

Current job: Cincinnati caput manager since 2017

Previous 3 jobs: Ohio State antiaircraft coordinator (2012-2016), Ohio State caput manager (2011), Ohio State antiaircraft coordinator (2005-2010)

Head coaching record: 43-21

Analysis: Fickell was hired by USC diversion manager Mike Bohn astatine Cincinnati and remains adjacent to the members of the diversion section who followed Bohn to Los Angeles. Fickell has had a batch of occurrence astatine Cincy, winning AAC Coach of the Year successful 2018 and 2020, winning the league rubric a twelvemonth ago, and helium presently has the Bearcats ranked No. 8 nationally. But Fickell has been precise deliberate successful making decisions astir which jobs to pursue. With the Bearcats connected the verge of joining the Big 12, would helium privation to permission for USC and commencement gathering up a caller program? It remains to beryllium seen.

P.J. Fleck

Current job: Minnesota caput manager since 2017

Previous 3 jobs: Western Michigan caput manager (2013-2016), Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers manager (2012), Rutgers wide receivers manager (2010-2011)

Head coaching record: 57-42

Analysis: Fleck has had transformative occurrence astatine each of his 2 caput coaching stops. Minnesota won its archetypal Big Ten part rubric successful 2019, and Western Michigan went undefeated successful Fleck’s last play there, culminating successful a Cotton Bowl appearance. His prima has faded a spot since then, though, arsenic Minnesota went 3-4 successful 2020 and is 1-1 this season. Would helium supply the close excitement for a USC instrumentality basal that needs to bargain backmost into a shot programme that is has soured connected successful caller years?

James Franklin

Current job: Penn State caput manager since 2014

Previous 3 jobs: Vanderbilt caput manager (2011-2013), Maryland violative coordinator (2008-2010), Kansas State violative coordinator (2006-2007)

Head coaching record: 86-43

Analysis: Franklin would beryllium the biggest food for USC to haul successful connected this list, with the Nittany Lions presently ranked No. 10 nationally. Franklin’s acquisition astatine Penn State mirrors what helium would beryllium asked to bash astatine USC: Take implicit a historical programme that has fallen into a slump and instrumentality it to nationalist relevance. But would Franklin, a Pennsylvania native, beryllium consenting to determination west? It’s pugnacious to predict, but 1 statement successful favour of USC is it would beryllium easier for Franklin to marque the College Football Playoff successful the Pac-12 than it has been successful the Big Ten going up against Ohio State each year.