While it’s Super Bowl Sunday for most of the free world, it’s firing day for the USC football program. Reportedly.
According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the USC football program is shedding three assistants from Clay Helton‘s coaching staff. That booted trio includes Johnny Nansen (inside linebackers), Greg Burns (defensive backs) and Chad Kauha’aha’a (defensive line).
The reported moves come a little over a week after Todd Orlando was named as defensive coordinator. It also comes a couple of days after another Texas assistant, safeties coach Craig Naivar, was reported to be headed to the Land of Troy.
SOURCES: Some #USC coaching news.. ILB coach Johnny Nansen; DB coach Greg Burns and DL coach Chad Kauha’aha’a will not be returning to the Trojans staff.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) February 2, 2020
Nansen was easily the most-tenured of the three as he just completed his sixth season with the USC football program. The first two seasons, Nansen was running backs coach and special teams coordinator. From 2016-18, he was the linebackers coach.
Nansen also was the assistant head coach from 2014 to 2018 and the recruiting coordinator from 2016 to 2018.
Both Burns and Kauha’aha’a just finished off their first seasons with the Trojans. This was actually Burns second stint with the USC football team. In 2002-05, he was the Trojans’ defensive backs coach.
Burns also has extensive Power Five experience in the same position at other programs:
- Oregon State, 2018
- Cal, 2014-17
- Purdue, 2012
- Arizona State, 2008-11
- Kansas State, 2007
Kauha’aha’a, 46, has coached the defensive line at six collegiate stops since 2005: Boise State (2018), Oregon State (2015-17), Wisconsin (2013-14), Utah (2011-12), Utah State (2009-10) and Weber State (2005-08).