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5 potential replacements for Clay Helton at USC

By John Buhler

Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans head coach Clay Helton prior to a NCAA football game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans head coach Clay Helton prior to a NCAA football game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator and associate head coach Greg Schiano prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator and associate head coach Greg Schiano prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Greg Schiano – Ohio State defensive coordinator

Not only is USC poorly coached on the offensive side of the ball, but this football team is terribly undisciplined under Helton. These are two signs that he is in over his head as a Power 5 head football coach at a traditional power like USC.

Though the offense is where USC needs the most help, the Trojans need a head coach that can bring in an excellent coaching staff to Los Angeles. One guy that shouldn’t be overlooked for this potential coaching vacancy is Ohio State Buckeyes co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.

Schiano had been out of football the last two years after failing as the head coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. Not having a franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay ruined his chances at staying with the Buccaneers. However, before leaving for the NFL, Schiano had taken a despicable football program in the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and led them to bowl games.

At Rutgers, Schiano went 68-67 (28-48) in 11 seasons, taking the Scarlet Knights to six bowl games during his last seven years in Piscataway. If a head coach can briefly make Rutgers relevant and turn that experience into an NFL head coaching gig, that means he’s a great coach.

Schiano has made it a point to return to the college game. He is on his friend Urban Meyer’s staff in Columbus. Meyer’s judgment with coaching talent should never be questioned, as he’s probably the best in-game tactician in the Power 5 today.

Should Schiano leave Columbus for Los Angeles, there is no question that he will be able to build an elite staff for the Trojans from day one. Does a failed former NFL head coach coming to USC sound familiar? He may not be Pete Carroll, but Schiano would be able to right this USC ship almost immediately.

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