(Writer’s note: Yes, we know Lane Kiffin calls the plays. Yes, he’s pictured to the right. Sorry to give anyone any false hope.)
Two days after Signing Day, USC’s coaching staff is undergoing more changes. Reportedly.
USCFootball.com (of the Rivals.com family) reported Friday night that Trojans offensive coordinator and running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu will not be retained by Kiffin. Bruce Feldman of CBSSports was later able to confirm that Polamalu was indeed let go.
The Rivals report goes on to say that the move had been in the works for about the past month. USC signed 12 recruits on Wednesday and was ranked as the 13th-best class in the country. That group consisted of five five-star players and seven four-star players.
Polamalu had just completed his third season with the Trojans after spending six years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also coached at USC as an assistant from 2000-04, and played with the team as a fullback/linebacker from 1982-85. In 2012, USC had arguably one of the most talented offenses in all of college football with the likes of Matt Barkley, Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, among many others, but the Trojans finished sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring and fifth in total offense.
While USC has not confirmed the report, Polamalu would be the fourth assistant to leave USC recently, along with defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, linebacker coach Scottie Hazelton and defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders.