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USC football: 5 coaches who could replace Clay Helton

By Brad Berreman

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans watches warm up before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans watches warm up before the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 31, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Jimmy Lake
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

4. Jimmy Lake, Washington Defensive Coordinator

Lake is in his sixth season at Washington, serving as co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach and now in his second season as defensive coordinator by himself. Last year the Huskies were top-15 nationally across the board defensively (total defense, scoring defense, against the run, against the pass) and first or second in the Pac-12 in those categories. In 2017 the Huskies, led by the secondary under Lake’s tutelage, allowed the fewest yards per completion in the country (9.42).

After each of the last two seasons, Nick Saban has had interest in bringing Lake to Alabama. That’s one of the highest compliments a college assistant coach can receive, but Lake appears to be perfectly happy at Washington.

Lake has experience as an assistant in the NFL, having served as a defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-2007 as assistant defensive backs, the top role in 2010-2011) and Detroit Lions (2008).

Lake is fairly well-compensated at Washington, making $1.1 million per year. But it seems like a foregone conclusion he’ll be a head coach soon, and USC should have him on their radar.

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