USC Trojans Football: 10 Most Important People in the Program

Now that USC football has officially been declared "back," Trojans fans are turning a confident eye toward 2012.

Though there are still many unanswered questions from 2011—not the least of which is whether a certain quarterback who wears the No. 7 returns—left to ponder, the predominant feeling is that USC will be challenging for the Pac-12 crown next year at the least.

For this to be so, a great deal of players will have to continue the remarkable growth that began this year, and for that to happen, those charged with administering the program will have to be on their game.

Of course, it is the coaches (and one other guy) that we are talking about, for they are the backbone of any successful program.

So while you will get no argument that it is indeed the players who win the game on the field, the coaches are responsible for putting them in a position to do so.

With that in mind, here are the 10 most important people in the Trojans program.

10. John Baxter (Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coach)

It was tough placing the best special teams coach in the nation so low on this list, but that is the price you pay for being so good at what you do.

Because Baxter has done such a good job with his charges in 2011—and because there are other areas that demand continued growth on this team—special teams will have to reside low in this slideshow.

Please understand, however, this unit is extraordinarily important—no question about it.

Forgive me, Coach Baxter?

9. Joe Barry (Linebackers Coach)

It sure must be fun to be Joe Barry right about now.

With three outstanding starting linebackers (Lamar Dawson, Dion Bailey and Hayes Pullard) just now beginning to scratch the surface of their potential, Barry has a wealth of talent at his disposal.

And he still has a ton in reserve as well such as Marquis Simmons, Will Andrew and 2011 service team defensive player of the year, Anthony Sarao, just to name a few.

Oh, and lets not forget Scott Starr and Jabari Ruffin, two prep studs who have given the Trojans their verbal pledges this year.

Yeah, Coach Barry must be loving life to be sure.

But what he does with all of that talent remains to be seen in 2012, and that is why he is the ninth-most important person in the program.

8. James Cregg (Offensive Line Coach)

Make no mistake about it—Coach Cregg's job got much more difficult this week with the announcement that All-American left tackle Matt Kalil will take his considerable game to the NFL.

But considering how Cregg had his "big uglies" playing by the end of this year, the road before him in 2012 should be much easier than the one he faced this year.

After all, he had three new starters, and of the two returning linemen, Khalid Holmes was moving over from guard to center.

Despite those obstacles, the offensive line allowed only eight sacks all year and helped produce Curtis McNeal, a 1,000-yard rusher.

Now Cregg's biggest concern is whom to move over to that left tackle spot.

The good news is that he will have a bunch of players to choose from, whether it is someone like Kevin Graf, who played right tackle, or perhaps a guy like Aundrey Walker, a massive player whose size is matched by his potential.

And there is some quality coming from this year's recruiting class, led by Jordan Simmons and Max Tuerk, both outstanding prospects.

7. Clay Helton (Quarterbacks Coach)

As Trojan fans sit and wonder about the status of quarterback Matt Barkley, Clay Helton has no such luxury.

Instead, Helton will be focusing on the gunslingers he knows he has.

With Jesse Scroggins, Max Wittek and Cody Kessler having exactly one game snap between them, USC's quarterback coach knows he has his work cut out for him.

The good news for Helton is that all three young signal-callers are talented.

Now it will be his job to turn that talent into production.

For Helton—and Trojan fans—it will be nice if he has an extra year to do that developing, but of course, that will only occur if No. 7 returns for his senior year.

Otherwise, the pressure will be on whomever Helton gets ready first, and that is why Clay Helton is the seventh-most important person in the program.

6. Kennedy Polamalu (Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach)

Anyone doing "double duty" deserves special consideration on this list, so Kennedy Polamalu finds himself at No. 6 of the most important people in the program.

Beyond the fact that in conjunction with Lane Kiffin, Polamalu helps plan the offense, there is also the fact that he helped produce a 1,000-yard back this year (Curtis McNeal) and will be responsible for getting Amir Carlisle, D.J. Morgan and others ready to contribute as well.

His players love Polamalu, and his ability to act as a "father figure" has endeared every running back who has been blessed to play for him.

If Polamalu can get his charges to be as productive in 2012 as they were in 2011, he may find himself placed even higher when this list is revised.

5. Aaron Ausmus (Strength and Conditioning Coach)

Okay, a slight disclaimer here:

Before you say I am crazy for elevating Aaron Ausmus to No. 5 on this list, hear me out.

It is a long time until spring camp opens, and the guy who will be responsible for keeping the Trojans in shape until then is Mr. Ausmus.

While it is certainly true that he will slide down the list once the season starts, until then he will be crucial to the Trojans' fortunes in 2012.

Besides, the players love him and he gets results.

That's good enough for him to place high on this list.

No. 4: Monte Kiffin (Defensive Coordinator)

After two years as USC's defensive coordinator, it appears as though the Trojans' players are finally getting the elder Kiffin's system down.

By the end of last year, the Trojans were in firm control of the defense, and if you're not sure about that, go ahead and ask the Bruins of UCLA.

With a young group of players on the verge of turning into the Trojans defense of the Pete Carroll era, much of the credit must go to Lane Kiffin's father, who many said was not suited to the college game.

Turns out they were a bit premature to write off 'ol Monte eh?

Now with visions of a BCS bowl dancing in Trojans fans' heads for 2012, it will be critical for the Trojans to continue its growth as a tough and fast defense.

Much of that falls on Monte Kiffin, which is why he is No. 4 on this list.

3. Ed Orgeron (Recruiting Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach)

Let's take this one thing at a time, shall we?

First, Ed Orgeron is a fantastic D-line coach, and in 2012 he will have to be, because he is going to be replacing three starters in interior linemen Christian Tupou and DeJohn Harris along with end Nick Perry.

While this is certainly a daunting task for any team, the Trojans can be secure in the knowledge that Coach O will have his boys ready.

Now for Orgeron's other talent—there may not be a better recruiter in the country.

With the recruiting of prep talent being the life blood of any college football program, having Orgeron as your lead guy can only mean good things, which is why USC has had top five classes in the last two years.

While scholarship reductions will mean that USC won't be able to repeat the national ranking of the last two years in recruiting, you can be certain that there will be a ton of quality in whom they get.

And with national signing day a mere month-and-a-half away, there are few more important people in the Trojans program than Ed Orgeron.

2. Pat Haden (Athletic Director)

Despite some early grumblings about how he handled the NCAA's ruling against the Trojans in the Reggie Bush scandal, Pat Haden has done a good job for USC as their AD.

Exhibiting the face of integrity for the Trojans, Haden has guided the athletic department in a manner that has exuded confidence both to their fanbase and, as importantly, to the governing administration of college sports.

But he has also done something else.

In exhibiting complete confidence in Lane Kiffin and his staff, Haden's support of the football program has fostered a sense of stability that is so necessary to its success.

As the Trojans move forward in 2012, that leadership will be critical, and for his troubles, Pat Haden is the second-most important person in the football program.

1. Lane Kiffin (Head Coach)

Though there are still many haters out there, you would be hard pressed to find any dressed in cardinal and gold.

Lane Kiffin, he of the multitude of innocent gaffes and stepped-on toes, proved his worth in 2011, guiding the Trojans to a 10-2 record and a top 10 finish in a year when neither a good record nor national recognition was expected.

After surmounting a multitude of obstacles this year, including dealing with the second year of postseason bowl bans, Kiffin did a masterful job guiding a young Trojans team to a fine year in which they were one of the hottest teams by the season's end.

In addition to administering to the overall coaching of the team, Kiffin also has produced two excellent recruiting classes and has a third on the way.

While there is still plenty to do for Kiffin as he leads USC into 2012, he has shown that he is the right man for the job, and for this reason, he occupies the top spot as the most important man in the program.

Conclusion

As stated in the opening slide, it is the players themselves who win the game on the field of play.

With that in mind, there is no understating their importance to a program that is still in the process of righting a ship that has trekked in perilous seas over the last three years.

Having said that, players come and go, and it is the resilience of a strong program that weathers those departures.

And that is why—despite the individual brilliance of any one player—those administering the Trojans football program are the most important people associated with it.

This is a fluid list, subject to the natural ebb and tide of football fortune that falls the staff's way.

For that reason, it will require amending as kickoff for the 2012 season draws near.

But for Trojans fans, they hope the final amendment includes a hunt for the national championship next year.

Make no mistake about that.