USC, Lincoln Riley unveil official coaching staff
Lincoln Riley’s first USC coaching staff is officially official.
On Monday, the program and new head coach announced all ten full-time, on-field assistant coaches.
We got our guys.#FightOn✌️ pic.twitter.com/fj237r6ody
— USC Football ✌️ (@uscfb) January 10, 2022
“I am very excited to formally announce our coaching staff,” Riley said in a release. “I truly believe we have put together an elite group of coaches that will help build this football program back to national prominence. They have each been a part of winning programs and have a championship mindset. This staff understands that championship teams have a foundation of culture, and they know what that looks like and how to implement it. They recognize the tradition and expectations of this program and are eager to get to work.
“I’ve said it before, USC belongs at the top of college football, and this coaching staff is going to be instrumental in making that happen. I hope you will join me in welcoming them to the Trojan Family.”
Here’s the staff:
- Dennis Simmons: assistant head coach, outside wide receivers coach, offensive passing game coordinator
- Alex Grinch: defensive coordinator, safeties coach
- Josh Henson: offensive coordinator, offensive line coach
- Donte Williams: defensive passing game coordinator, defensive backs coach
- Roy Manning: outside linebackers coach, nickels coach, assistant head coach for defense
- Dave Nichol: inside wide receivers coach, associate head coach for offense
- Brian Odom: inside linebackers coach, associate head coach for defense
- Shaun Nua: defensive line coach
- Kiel McDonald: running backs coach
- Zach Hanson: tight ends coach
Simmons, Grinch, Manning, and Odom come to USC as former members of Riley’s Oklahoma coaching staff.
Williams is the lone holdover from the previous USC regime and an ace recruiter on the West Coast.
Hanson comes to USC after coaching the offensive line at Tulsa. Henson was the offensive line coach at Texas A&M. Nichol spent the last two seasons at Mississippi State. And Nua is coming over after coaching the defensive line at Michigan.
It’s a big-name staff for Riley, with many of his assistants coming off banner seasons in their respective areas. Now, the attention turns full-time to building out the roster and getting ready for winter conditioning and spring ball.