USC brings back Clancy Pendergast as DC
USC is bringing in a familiar face to run its defense.
Trojans head coach Clay Helton announced Monday that he has added Clancy Pendergast to his staff as defensive coordinator. This will be Pendergast’s third stint as an assistant with the Trojans. He spent the 2015 season as linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
“We are very excited to announce the return of Clancy Pendergast as our defensive coordinator,” said Helton. “I have had the good fortune to watch Clancy lead our defense first hand and was blown away by his knowledge of the game as well as his teaching abilities. His success at both the NFL and college level makes it easy to see why he is one of the top defensive coaches in the game today. His aggressive style of defensive play is something I know our players as well as the Trojan Family will enjoy.”
Pendergast served as USC’s defensive coordinator in 2013, helping the program rank in the Top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks, interceptions, red zone scoring defense, third down conversion defense and fourth down conversion defense.
He also had stints as defensive coordinator at Cal, and with the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He also was an assistant with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers and at Oklahoma and Mississippi State. His first stint at USC came in 1992 as a graduate assistant.
Pendergast replaces Justin Wilcox, who Helton fired after USC lost to Stanford in the Pac-12 title game.
Helton served as interim coach after Steve Sarkisian was fired early in the season. He had the interim tag lifted by USC on Nov. 30.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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