Pete Carroll Makes Return to USC in a Teaching Capacity

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Former USC Trojans head coach Pete Carroll is rekindling his relationship with the university. In an interview with Seattle-based KJR-FM, Carroll said he will teach a class at USC in the spring. The coach did not disclose the subject matter of the class, noting that he and the university are ironing out the details.

USC confirmed the coach's return: "We are excited to welcome Pete Carroll home to USC in a new capacity in which he can, as a legendary coach and leader, share his knowledge and experience with our students," the school stated in a press release. "We are working on the details and hope to share more specifics later."

The Pete Carroll Era

Carroll, now 72 years old, led the Trojans to a 97-19 record during his tenure from 2001 through 2009. Winning two national championships, he firmly reestablished USC's status as a national powerhouse program. The Trojans dominated the Pac-12 Conference in the Carroll era, winning or sharing the conference championship in six out of the coach's nine seasons. USC's dominance under Carroll's stewardship manifested most prominently during a 34-game winning streak from the middle of the 2003 season until the 2006 Rose Bowl.

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After leaving USC, Carroll coached the Seattle Seahawks for 14 years, twice leading the team to the Super Bowl. He is one of only three coaches to win a Super Bowl and a national title in college football. The other two are Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer.

Although USC was hit with crippling, controversial NCAA sanctions after Carroll's departure, the coach has remained well-regarded by the school and its fans. USC awarded Carroll an honorary degree and inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2015.

As reported by The Associated Press, "USC hasn’t recaptured its powerhouse form in the 15 seasons since Carroll’s departure, employing six head coaches and struggling to win consistently despite rosters frequently stacked with NFL-level talent. The Trojans have won only one conference title and appeared in three major bowls since Carroll’s departure."

Lincoln Riley's Comments

Current coach Lincoln Riley led USC to an 11-3 record in 2022, but is coming off a disappointing 2023 campaign in which the Trojans lost to rivals Notre Dame and UCLA. Riley told reporters he is pleased that Carroll is back in the fold at USC: "I'd love to have him. He's great. Coach has been great to me. We've had a chance to catch up pretty often, check in with each other. He's been a great resource and a great person to be able to pick his brain. He's been very good to me. I'm excited he's going to be here more, and we'd be crazy not to take advantage of having him around. Whether it's an official role or not, he's made it very clear that we've got a good open line of communication."

Ranked No. 23 in the AP preseason poll, USC opens its season on Sept. 1 against No. 13 LSU in Las Vegas. The Trojans' first Big Ten Conference game is on Sept. 21 against the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich.