Jim Arellanes would have been a good fit at USC
We knew it would happen sooner or later. USC fans, like me, hoped it would be later but after a year in which the Trojans lost four games, and possible NCAA sanctions coming down the time was perfect for Pete Carroll to take his act to the NFL. And of course 35 million dollars also had a little something to do with it.
There’s no reason to cry. We should just thank Pete for what he did for the program and move on. I mean how can we get upset at a guy that won 97 games, 7 Pacific 10 Conference championships and 2 National Championships in nine years? We knew Carroll would eventually need a bigger challenge. After several years of being courted, Seattle finally gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Let’s be thankful for the years Pete gave us and get to the more important task at hand. Who is going to be the next coach at USC? Oregon State Coach Mike Riley, who was on the top of the Trojans’ wish list, has already turned the job down signing a three year contract extension with the Beavers. That leaves the field wide open.
There are plenty of other names being batted around. Former Trojan players and current NFL coaches Jack Del Rio and Jeff Fisher have been mentioned as well as former Raider and Buccaneer Coach Jon Gruden. Even Steve Sarkisian, who just left USC’s staff last year for the University of Washington, is apparently in the mix.
But there’s no need for Athletic Director Mike Garrett to look at those guys. We have plenty of capable coaches right here in the San Gabriel Valley. These are the guys we would like to see walking the sidelines at the coliseum calling the shots. These are the six guys USC should be looking at.
Matt Koffler – Head Coach Rosemead: Koffler’s name comes up for every other coaching vacancy so why not at the old alma mater. Koffler’s an ex quarterback who would work well with a young player like Matt Barkley. He always does a great job of selling us on the Panther program so you know he would be a great recruiter and he knows the high school players well.
Mike Mooney – Offensive Coordinator San Marino: Mooney has had head coaching experience at Temple City and San Marino and is also a USC alum. Mooney likes to run the ball and what better place to do it than at USC which always has an abundance of talented backs. Mooney is ready to take the step into the college ranks.
Jim Arellanes – Head Coach Northview: Another ex quarterback who could do wonders with Barkley. We’ve seen what Arellanes can do when all the pieces are in place as evidenced by the Vikings’ season in 2008. Arellanes is another guy who has experience as a college player and as a professional. He was the MVP of the World Bowl when he quarterbacked the Rhein Fire to a 34-10 win over Frankfurt in 1998. Who else can say that?
Gil Ruedaflores – Former Head Coach Alhambra: Who knows the local football talent better than Ruedaflores, who has been coaching on the high school and the college level for the better part of 40 years? He says he’s retired but something tells me could be talked out of that.
Randy Backus – Assistant Arcadia: Backus, whose last stop was at Arcadia, was also the Head Coach at Temple City for two years. From what we’re hearing he’s free agent and would definitely be interested in the USC job. Backus is a student of the game and has connections on the college level.
Jim Singiser- Head Coach Arroyo: Singiser would be a long shot. It would be tough for him to leave the Knights program right now with all the players he has returning. Garrett would have to offer a multi year, multi million dollar deal to get him to budge. Even then it would be difficult considering Singiser is a UCLA guy.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tspeterson32@yahoo.com.
This is all moot now anyway since Garrett hired Lane Kiffin Tuesday. But it also makes my point more valid. All of these candidates are better than Kiffin. At least none of them coached a team that lost to UCLA.
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