This Coaching Adjustment Could Define the USC Trojans' Season

After defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left USC to take the same position with his alma mater, Penn State, the day before the Alamo Bowl in December, Lincoln Riley faced the most important decision of his coaching career.

Offense has never been a question in Riley’s time as a head coach. The problem has been defense. Riley was diligent during an extensive search that went deep into the month of January before hiring a former Big 12 rival and someone he has admired for decades, Gary Patterson.

Hiring a Hall of Fame Coach

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Coaching Staff Defense Gary Patterson College Football Playoff Mike Ekeler Trovon Reed Fall Camp — Aug 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley watches from the sidelines against the Missouri State Bears in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Patterson built one of the most successful programs of the 21st century at TCU. It’s why he’s headed to the Hall of Fame. And his specialty, defense.

Patterson is a full-time staff member for the first time since 2021 and for the time since 2000, it’s not as a head coach. He served as a consultant at Texas in 2022 and Baylor in 2024, but the fire to rejoin the coaching rank on a full-time basis burned hot. Patterson had an extra pep in step walking to the practice field in the spring and has a laser focused look in his eyes in the fall.

“He's in the Hall of Fame for a reason,” said defensive lineman VanSumeren at Big Ten Media Days. "He could have stayed retired, could have kept golfing, but he came back because he loves the game and he wants to win. He's told us many times, he didn’t come back for anything but to win.”

Patterson’s only focus at Southern Cal is giving Riley a defense that can complement his high-powered offenses and help get the Trojans into the College Football Playoff. The 66-year-old coach doesn’t have the responsibilities he once did as a head coach off the field. He’s not running an entire program or on the road recruiting.

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Recruiting Transfer Portal Skyler Jones Alex VanSumeren Jahkeem Stewart Jide Abasiri Spring — USC Trojans defensive coordinator Gary Patterson | USC Trojans on SI

“I didn’t have worry about going fundraising, I didn’t have to worry about going on the road recruiting, all I did was do football,” Patterson said. “That’s like getting married, I wasn’t doing anything else. Even though the staff needed a recharge, I didn’t really need to do that, so I stayed here all summer, I didn’t leave. I knew that’s the way I was gonna do it when I got here, my wife knew how I was gonna do it.”

Patterson has essentially lived at the facility, constantly watching film. Something he did extensively last season as well while working on a college football kickoff show for Amazon. He was given a Catapult Thunder subscription, a video analysis platform to watch multi-angle footage and study opponents. And because he wasn't on a staff, he could watch everyone.

Patterson is incredibly hands on with every position group at USC. A big reason why he built great defenses for two decades was because of his player development. And he did so with two and three-star recruits and junior college players. With the Trojans, he inherits more talent than he’s ever had before.

“His brand of defense and his technique and the fundamentals that we do on a daily and weekly basis all helps in furthering development and learning a new scheme,” said linebacker Desman Stephens. “It's been a seamless transition because he utilizes things that he's done, things that we've done to have the best mix possible. It's been a great transition just because of the teacher and the leader that he is.”

Revamped Defensive Staff at USC

USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Mike Ekeler Recruiting Class Talanoa Ili Spring Practice Desman Stephens Jadyn Walker Recruit — USC Trojans linebackers coach Mike Ekeler | USC Trojans on SI

But it’s not just Patterson. New linebacker coach Mike Ekeler is someone that has described himself as a teacher. He and AJ Howard, who was promoted to outside linebacker coach this offseason, have focused on the fundamentals of playing and understanding the position.

“Last year, I knew how to play backer somewhat, but this year I really understand how to play like backer fully,” said linebacker Jadyn Walker.

Paul Gonzales is a longtime assistant under Patterson, who followed his mentor to Los Angeles. Gonzales is another coach that emphasizes the small details.

“It's been very beneficial. One thing specific I feel like last year I could have had less eye violations,” said safety Christian Pierce. “That's something that he really hones on this year as a safety. Of course, safety, you have to have the best eyes, you have to communicate the best. You have to put your players in the right alignment.”

Sam Carter was an All-American safety under Patterson at TCU in 2014. Carter works hand-in-hand with Gonzales as the nickels coach.

“They actually helped me reading the pre-snap alignment and just knowing split receiver splits and everything,” said defensive back Alex Graham. “Teaching us more ball language overall, and helping us with our technique. They know what they're doing for sure.”

Skyler Jones was promoted to defensive line coach to replace his mentor, Eric Henderson, who rejoined the NFL ranks this offseason. Southern Cal retained cornerback coach Trovon Reed and defensive end coach Shaun Nua, both of whom have followed the same approach of being teachers on the field.

From watching spring practice to fall camp, individual drills on the defensive side of the ball look vastly different than it has in the past. Better tackling, better alignment, better technique, better eyes and more physical. It's been engrained into the players.

USC certainly has more depth and talent than at any point in Riley’s tenure. But it’s not just about acquiring talent, it’s about developing it and that’s an area the Trojans have struggled with. Do the Trojans finally put it all together in this critical year for Riley?

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