USC Football: Trojans Targeting Defensive Coordinator From New Mexico

The Trojans could get a major and well-needed upgrade on the defensive side of the ball

It's no secret the USC Trojans will look to upgrade their defense in many ways. The Trojans, though they did enough last off-season by just acquiring talent via the transfer portal and talented freshmen. 

However. as we all know, that proved to be worth nothing. This defense has a long way to go, and it all starts with a new defensive coordinator. The Trojans will search far and wide for a DC to get USC where they need to go; however, they may not need to search that far. 

Former New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales was relieved of his duties on Saturday and will be looked at as a top candidate for a defensive coordinator job. And your USC Trojans could be in play for the defensive mastermind. 

Gonzales will be at the top of the defensive coordinator market, as he’s been a successful defensive coordinator running the 3-3-5 at San Diego State and Arizona State. https://t.co/ulkfdRNK1x

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 26, 2023

As college football expert Pete Thamel mentioned above, Gonzales helped lead a successful defense with San Diego State and Arizona State. 

While Gonzales didn't do a grand job leading the Lobos to a great defense, he'd had the resources to do so with the USC Trojans. It's clear he has experience leading a defense, mastering the 3-3-5 scheme that he learned under Rocky Long. 

Gonzales would not only help out the defense, but he'll help bring extensive West Coast recruiting experience that will always be much obliged. 

The search for a new defensive coordinator may take a while; however, Gonzales is a worthy candidate, and we'll see if the Trojans will take a stab at him when the time comes. 

To stay tuned for updates on that and more, join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Trojans!