Kiffin Fires USC DC/LB Coach - Candidate for UM?

Submitted by MGoAero on

Lane Kiffin has not retained USC's DC, Rocky Seto, who had been on USC's staff since 1999 serving as, among other things Linebackers Coach for a couple of years and most recently as DC. Could he be a candidate for the LB coaching position at UM? USC has typically had pretty brilliant defenses under Carroll's reign, and it would be nice to have someone familiar with recruiting California.

Link:
http://espn.go.com/blog/pac10/post/_/id/7461/report-kiffin-cuts-seto-lo…

Smitty D

January 28th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^

I am seriously impressed. Watching this video makes me want to be coached up by this guy. The best part of the video is at 2:15 the kid looks back and misses the pick, instead of yelling at the kid he points out to the rest of the LB/DB's don't look back on the ball, walks up to him gives him a little head tap and moves on. Good video god i miss playing lol

Blue in Yarmouth

January 28th, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^

I can't see a scenario where the former DC of USC (that has had great defenses in the past decade) would take a step down to a LB coaching position. I just don't see it happening, though it would be great.

MGoAero

January 28th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^

I'm inclined to agree, but it's worth nothing that he was DC for only one year (2009). He's not exactly a veteran, entrenched, coach known as being a great DC. That being said, I think it's unlikely he comes to UM but who knows. He's a person of interest that I wanted to point out.

Rasmus

January 28th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^

Anybody whose father named his sons after Rocky Marciano, Sonny Jurgensen, and Johnny Bench is okay by me!

But I suspect the NFL will come calling. Although he was DC for only one year (last year), and their defense wasn't exactly great that year.

MinorRage

January 28th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^

I can't say I'd want a guy from USC who has most likely been involved in the recruiting sage the past few years. I'm sure he's a great coach, but after watching our bball program struggle for a few years don't think I want anybody like that associated with the football program.

AC1997

January 28th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^

Not only was he the DC for only a year, but I think Carrol called most of the defense anyway. So the "USC DC" on his resume isn't quite as lofty as it might sound. I would hope that RR puts in a call to him at the very least, but it seems a long-shot.

That being said, I would be happy to get him. The recruiting stuff is a concern, but I would hope that the rest of the staff of the department would make sure he understood how things work at Michigan versus USC.

bronxblue

January 28th, 2010 at 10:45 AM ^

Listen, when you can replace the coach responsible for one of the more sustained runs of elite LBs in recent memory with a guy who was an assistant for the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE Buccaneers, you have to do it.

Man, watching Kiffin and USC run this program is like watching a bunch of retards hump a doorknob.

Tauro

January 28th, 2010 at 10:48 AM ^

RR likely has already got his candidate picked and is waiting until after signing day to make it official. I mean, we've heard nothing otherwise.

Magnus

January 28th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^

First of all, he coached a bunch of great linebackers at USC.

Secondly, I believe USC had to replace about 9 starters in 2009. Even though USC's bench is jam-packed with awesome recruits, it's still hard to have that many newbies and produce a great defense.

Don

January 28th, 2010 at 1:06 PM ^

He has spent literally his entire life in Los Angeles, his wife is from the west coast (Seattle), and his Wikipedia bio says he's devoutly religious and very involved in his church community. Add in the fact that as a Japanese-American he is part of the extensive Japanese-American population in the LA area and west coast in general, and I just can't see this guy coming anywhere in the midwest. I wouldn't be surprised if Rick Neweasel picked him up for the UCLA staff.

That's not to say that he wouldn't be a nice addition to our staff.

Tacopants

January 28th, 2010 at 1:23 PM ^

I would love to get this guy, but its highly unlikely. He was DC and that wasn't going to happen with Monte Kiffin coming with Lane.

BTW, we all realize that his replacement, Joe Barry, is THAT Joe Barry right? Defensive Coordinator for the Lions who was Marinelli's son in law which prompted Rob Parker's infamous question?

stankoniaks

January 28th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^

Seto was actually viewed as a coach very much on the rise. Sarkisian at Washington offered him the DC job at UW which he turned down and he became the DC at USC after Nick Holt left for UW. Yes, a DC at USC may not be as loft consiering Carroll called the plays and all, but it's stil a DC gig and for what it's worth Seto was considered a very good position coach when he was coaching DBs the last few years (prior to 2009).

IIRC he coach DBs right before he became the DC, but before that he did coach LBs during the Bush/Leinart years, though I believe Norton coached LBs during that time too. The thing with Caroll was that often you had guys splitting roles (like Sark and Kiffin as co-OCs).

Seto would be a great get but he's a west coast guy so not sure he comes here. Both he and his wife went to SC, and I believe his wife has ties to Seattle too.