USC Most Likely to Hire the Man Behind Pete Carroll's Worst Defeats

If you ask anyone what were Pete Carroll’s two worst defeats at USC, they would probably say Stanford…and Stanford. 

The first loss was three seasons ago when the 41-point underdog Cardinal knocked USC from first place in what some call college football’s most stunning defeat. The loss cost Carroll and the Trojans another shot at a third national title.

The second Stanford defeat occurred just this past season as the Cardinal handed Carroll his worst defeat ever and the Trojans' worst home loss in years, 55-20.

The 13-9 UCLA loss a few years ago was also a huge upset. But the Bruins weren’t 41-point underdogs.

The man responsible for those two impressive Stanford victories as well as their recent resurgence in the Pac-10 may just wind up at USC as early as Monday.

No, it is not Jim Harbaugh but David Shaw, his offensive coordinator.

The Chicago Tribune has reported that Stanford has hired former Bears’ offensive coordinator, Ron Turner. His job title has not been designated as yet, but I would highly doubt it to be anything less than offensive coordinator.

This would most likely mean that Shaw has already agreed to come to USC.

Shaw has been with Harbaugh since 2006 when he was his passing coordinator and receivers coach at San Diego University. Prior to that, Shaw was the Ravens wide receivers coach from 2002-2005 and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach from 2002-2004. Before that, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders from 1998-2001.

While Shaw will be leaving his alma mater, Turner will be repeating his role as Stanford’s offensive coordinator which he held from 1989-1991 under head coach Dennis Green. He will also be reuniting with Harbaugh. Turner was Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator with the Bears in 1993.

So, this will finally end all those Norm Chow rumors that have been floating around these days. And maybe for the better.

Shaw’s offense at Stanford has been nothing short of spectacular. Since Shaw took over, the Cardinal offensive statistics—scoring, touchdowns, passing and rushing yardage—have skyrocketed.  

The Cardinal, a perennial Pac-10 bottom-dweller, were just one overtime score away from winning the Pac-10 title and going to the Rose Bowl this past season. Additionally, Toby Gerhart, who lead the Pac-10 in rushing, was one of this year’s Heisman Trophy finalists.

And Shaw has done all this at a school that does not normally get four-and-five star recruits because of Stanford’s high academic requirements.

So, I hope I am not jumping the gun. But if things turn out Monday the way I expect them to, then let me be one of the first to welcome David Shaw to USC and also congratulate Lane Kiffin on keeping his promise to put together the best college coaching staff in the nation.

LATEST UPDATE ON COACHING CHANGES: Several sources are reporting that recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach Brennan Carroll, son of former head coach Pete Carroll, will be leaving USC.  I haven't heard as yet where Carroll is going.  He may be joining Pete in Seattle.  I figure that he had agreed to remain at USC through National Signing Day in order to coordinate the recruiting transition with the new staff.

From the I may have jumped the gun department, Jim Harbaugh has hired a new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, who was John Harbaugh's linebacker coach with the Baltimore Ravens.  He has also hired defensive line coach Randy Hart and special teams coach Brian Polian both were with Notre Dame.  

Meanwhile, there's a report that Lane Kiffin has been talking with Clay Helton, offensive coordinator at Memphis.  So, does this mean that David Shaw is not coming to USC?  Possibly.  But I do know that Harbaugh waited about ten days before the school officially announced Fangio's hiring.

NEW OFFERS: USC has offered Wayne Lyons, a safety/linebacker from Fort Lauderdale, and Saginaw (MI) wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett.