LOS ANGELES — Southern California added defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, tight ends coach Marques Tuiasosopo and offensive line coach Tim Drevno to new coach Steve Sarkisian’s staff on Monday night.
USC also confirmed that Clay Helton will stay with the Trojans as their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Wilcox was Sarkisian’s defensive coordinator at Washington for the past two seasons. The former Oregon defensive back has been a defensive coordinator at three schools over the last eight seasons, including four years at Boise State.
USC didn’t have to pay the $1 million buyout of Wilcox’s contract after the coach and the Huskies signed a mutual termination agreement, according to the Seattle Times. Wilcox wasn’t offered a job on new Washington coach Chris Petersen’s staff.
Tuiasosopo was the Huskies’ quarterbacks coach last season before leading them to a Fight Hunger Bowl victory over BYU last weekend as Sarkisian’s interim replacement. The former UCLA assistant and Oakland Raiders quarterback is leaving his alma mater, where he set Washington’s career total offense record from 1997-2000.
Drevno has spent the last three years coaching the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line after a lengthy college coaching career, including a stint at Stanford under current Niners coach Jim Harbaugh. Drevno will also be the Trojans’ running game coordinator.
Helton led USC (10-4) to a blowout victory over Fresno State earlier this month in the Las Vegas Bowl. Helton, who joined USC along with Lane Kiffin in 2010, was the Trojans’ third head coach of the season after interim coach Ed Orgeron’s resignation.
Receivers coach Tee Martin already announced he was staying with USC from Kiffin’s staff.
Sarkisian previously had hired three Washington assistants. Johnny Nansen is the Trojans’ special teams coordinator and running backs coach, along with linebackers coach Peter Sirmon and defensive backs coach Keith Heyward.
USC also hired strength and conditioning coach Ivan Lewis away from Washington.
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