USC officially hires Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator

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After days of rumors and speculation, it is now official: Gary Patterson is USC’s next defensive coordinator. On Friday, the Trojans officially announced the longtime TCU head coach as their new DC.

Patterson spent 21 years as the head coach of the Hornets Frogs leading them to six conference titles. Under his leadership, TCU moved up in the college football pecking order, eventually landing membership in the Big 12.

Patterson was forced out at TCU in 2021. Since then, he has served as a special assistant on the staffs at Texas and Baylor. Ironically, USC’s final game of the 2025 season was a loss to Patterson’s replacement at TCU, Sonny Dykes.

“We are excited to welcome Gary and his family to USC,” head coach Lincoln Riley said in a statement. “As a Hall of Fame coach, who is one of the game’s most highly regarded defensive minds, he brings a wealth of success and experience to our program. His impact will be immediate, elevating our defense and strengthening the culture we’ve built. We’re proud to welcome him to the Trojan Family.”

Patterson replaces D’Anton Lynn, who served as USC’s defensive coordinator for the last two seasons. Lynn departed the program in December to take the DC job at Penn State, his alma mater.

Under Lynn, USC’s defense improved significantly from the prior two years under Alex Grinch, but still left plenty to be desired at times. Patterson will now be tasked with trying to take the unit to the next level.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football hires Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator

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