Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson is currently at the forefront of USC’s search for a new defensive coordinator, as reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer. At 65 years old, Patterson is well-regarded in football circles, having led TCU from 2000 to 2021 before taking on roles as a special assistant at Texas and later as a consultant at Baylor.
Patterson steps in to fill the role vacated by D’Anton Lynn, who departed Lincoln Riley’s staff in December to take a similar position at Penn State. Known widely as a defensive strategist, Patterson boasts an impressive record of 181 wins and 79 losses at TCU, making him the most successful head coach in the program’s history. Under his leadership, the Horned Frogs went undefeated in 2010, clinching the Rose Bowl title, and narrowly missed a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014.
Throughout his tenure, Patterson facilitated TCU’s movement from Conference USA to the Mountain West, eventually leading them into the Big 12, where they claimed conference titles in each league. His coaching record includes guiding the Horned Frogs to 17 bowl games, achieving six top-10 finishes, and tallying 11 seasons with more than 10 wins. However, in October 2021, he was released from his position after a notably inconsistent four-year performance span.
In November 2023, Patterson expressed a desire to return to coaching on the sidelines.
“I still have a lot of ballgames left in me,” he mentioned. “If I ever get to a place where everything is in place, you’d have a chance to play in the playoffs and win a national championship. I’ve kept my eyes open. I took great notes when I was at Texas. With Sark being in the NFL and working with Coach (Nick) Saban, I went down there to learn. There were aspects where I felt we did better at TCU than maybe they did there, but that’s not to say anything was bad. From Xs and Os to recruiting, NIL, the portal, you name it, I’m rested. The key for me is to find the right place that would want Gary Patterson, but also to ensure I’m looking for the right fit too.”
Patterson is on the verge of joining USC ahead of Riley’s fifth season at the helm. Initially lured from Oklahoma to reinvigorate the Trojan program, Riley’s record of 35-18 over his first four seasons has fallen short of expectations. The Trojans recorded an 11-win season in Riley’s inaugural year, but have since seen their records drop to 8-5 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024, marking their first season in the Big Ten.
In 2025, the Trojans concluded their season with a 9-4 record, ending with a loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. As the 2026 season approaches, they have been ranked No. 11 in CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello’s way-too-early top 25.
