Former USC team captain lands job as NFL assistant coach

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to hire Westen Kentucky outside linebackers coach Michael Hutchings as their assistant linebackers coach, On3’s Matt Zenitz reported on Sunday evening. He played linebacker in college for the USC Trojans and was named a team captain during his time there. Hutchings also spent some time with the USC coaching staff and the Oregon coaching staff, before moving onto the Hilltoppers.

He was named as a defensive quality control analyst for the Trojans during the 2020 season. Hutchings also began his college coaching career with USC, working as a graduate assistant from 2018-2019. During that time, he worked with the linebackers.

In 2020, he helped the USC defense improve dramatically, they allowed just 369 total yards, after allowing 408.7 total yards in 2019. The Trojans’ defense had 16 takeaways in six games during 2020. That year was shortened due to Covid-19.

He earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors with USC

Hutchings played inside linebacker during his playing career with USC from 2013-2016, racking up 118 tackles and eight tackles for loss during his career. He was a team captain in 2016, when the Trojans won the Rose Bowl. After racking up 66 tackles and eight tackles for loss, he earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors.

Coming out of high school, he was rated as the No. 12 linebacker in America and the No. 128 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2013 cycle. He chose USC over offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, UCLA, and others.

His high school resume was highly decorated and he was named to the Prep Star All-American Dream Team, as well as USA Today All-USA second team. As a senior for famed De La Salle High (Concord, California)–he racked up 113 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, six deflections, and one forced fumble.

Before joining the USC coaching staff to begin his football coaching career, he worked in commercial real estate.