Getty ImagesWhile more and more people are clamoring for Pat Haden to strip the interim tag from the current head coach’s title, a name that’s been bandied about the rumor mill for the past couple of months has surfaced again.
Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reported Sunday morning that the USC athletic director flew to Denver two weeks ago and interviewed Jack Del Rio for what’s technically a coaching vacancy. Del Rio, who currently serves as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator, was an All-American linebacker with the Trojans in the early/mid-eighties.
It was those ties to the school, as well as his experience as a head coach at the NFL level, that had his name in the mix shortly after Lane Kiffin was fired in late September. In fact, in the first set of odds released after the dismissal, Del Rio was a 3/1 favorite to become Kiffin’s permanent replacement.
Haden’s search, which reportedly includes a $6 million-a-year salary incentive, has been somewhat complicated by the Trojans’ recent resurgence.
USC has won five of its six games — and are still alive for a division title at 5-0 in Pac-12 play — since Kiffin was summarily dismissed and Ed Orgeron was named the interim head coach. Included amongst those five wins was the upset Saturday night of then-No. 5 Stanford, which only increased the calls both locally and nationally for Orgeron to be tabbed as the permanent head coach moving forward.
A final decision from Haden on which direction the football program will take when it comes to head coach is not expected until the end of the regular season, at the earliest.
UPDATED 3:33 p.m. ET: The Denver Broncos confirmed Sunday afternoon that Jack Del Rio interviewed with USC Nov. 1.
It’s due diligence. Even if Del Rio doesn’t want the job , he can provide insight. Not convinced Del Rio is right choice.
Choice between Ogeron and Del Rio I’d keep O. Not a glamour guy but Del Rio is not exactly stimulating either.
I happen to agree with the last post. I know for a fact that J. Del Rio wants this job. I love Del Rio as a pro coach, but not to sure if he has the makeup to be a top level college coach. There’s a lot of unknowns with him still. My concern with this whole process is what we cannot see.
I’m worried that there are more then a few deep pocket Alum’s in the back ground that have the power to persuade the high ups at USC to possible control how this matter plays out.
It’s obvious Coach O should be held onto and made the HC at seasons end. I’m just not to sure if Pat Haden gets to make the final call.
I would keep Ogeron for now… give the man a chance… it would cost them a lot less than 6 million to let him coach next year and they wouldn’t have to start all over again with new personel…
… of course, in the real world, these positions are all about money and favors and connections… actual coaching skills and fan desires are secondary…
Just my .02
~Jim
Anyone calling for Coach Yaw Yaw over Jack Del Rio needs their head examined.
JDR is one of your own. Ed Orgeron is a transplant who will mix with the LA culture (and media) like oil and water. JDR has had sustained success in the NFL over a long period of time. While he never won anything substantial, neither did Pete Carroll (either pre or post USC). Ed O may be able to take over a talented team and win some games in the short run, but he isn’t the answer long-term. Just look at his record at Ole Miss.
Beware of making a long-term mistake in the euphoria over a handful of meaningless wins.
Jack Del Rio and six million dollars, how about imaduffer for a buck two forty nine?
Apparently Haden wasn’t watching Del Rio’s career… the man is just not very bright, and the Jaguars completely quit on him, two years in a row. This would be a bigger disaster than Kiffin, and that’s going some. Bellowing, bullying, braying ass idiot, who has conclusively proved that he cannot and will not succeed, ever, as a head coach… sound familiar? Kiffin II, without the recruiting experience and success.
CEO is our Heach Coach now and must be the HC next year. He’s a hell of a motivator, reecruiter and player manager. The kids love him and will die for him. Orgeron is our man and that’s that.
If CEO is the answer, USC needs to find a new question. USC will regret hiring him.
Interesting note for those who follow recruiting.
His son is a top notch recruit this year finishing his Senior year at Valor Christian.
If I am not mistaken I think he is a Stanford commit.
Now that would not be fun for four years.
USC is 5-2 in conference play, not 5-0. Yes, they have an outside chance at getting to the conference championship game, but there are more than a couple of things that would have to fall their way including upsetting UCLA. Nevertheless, the turn-around since Kiffin was canned is a breath of fresh air.
Pat Haden has plenty of time to find the right fit for head coach. I don’t think it’s Orgeron, but Haden should try to find a way to retain him just the same.
Wait………. Are the mighty Trojans aware that the Denver defense isn’t all that good?