Former TCU coach Gary Patterson is USC’s major goal to turn out to be the Trojans’ new defensive coordinator, CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer report. Patterson, 65, led the TCU program from 2000 to 2021 and most not too long ago labored as a particular assistant to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in 2022 and a marketing consultant at Baylor in 2024
At USC, Patterson would substitute D’Anton Lynn, who left Lincoln Riley’s workers in December for a similar place at his alma mater, Penn State. Patterson, generally known as a defensive guru, went 181-79 at TCU and is the winningest head coach in program historical past. The Horned Frogs went undefeated and gained the Rose Bowl below Patterson in 2010 and simply missed out on a School Soccer Playoff bid in 2014 — the primary yr of the four-team period.
Patterson guided TCU’s transition from Convention USA to the Mountain West and into the Large 12, successful no less than a share of the convention crown in every of these leagues. In all, he led the Horned Frogs to 17 bowl video games, six prime 10 finishes and 11 seasons with double-digit victories earlier than the college relieved him of his duties in October 2021 amid a four-year stretch of uneven play.
In November 2023, Patterson stated he had an itch to return to the sideline sooner or later.
“I nonetheless have a variety of ballgames left in me,” Patterson stated. “If I ever get a to a spot, the whole lot in place you’d have an opportunity to play within the playoffs and win a nationwide championship … I’ve maintain my eyes open. I took nice notes once I was at Texas. With Sark being within the NFL and being with Coach (Nick) Saban, I went down there to study. There have been issues I felt like that we did higher at TCU than possibly they did there, however not that something was unhealthy. To Xs and Os, to recruiting, to NIL, portal, you title it. I am rested. The important thing for me is to search out the best place that might need Gary Patterson, but additionally to know I am searching for the best place, too.”
Patterson is about to affix the USC program forward of Riley’s fifth season on the job. Riley was employed away from Oklahoma to push the Trojans again into the highest tier of the game. Up to now, he has under-delivered with a 35-18 file throughout his 4 seasons. The Trojans gained 11 video games in Riley’s first season earlier than dropping to 8-5 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024, USC’s first yr as a member of the Large Ten.
The Trojans completed 9-4 in 2025, a season that ended with an Alamo Bowl loss to TCU. They had been positioned at No. 11 in CBS Sports activities’ Brandon Marcello’s way-too-early prime 25 for the 2026 season.
