Los Angeles Chargers to hire USC RB coach Kiel McDonald
The USC Trojans will indeed lose an assistant coach to Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers staff. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported early Thursday stated that running backs coach Kiel McDonald is headed to the professional ranks for the first time in his coaching career.
This is a significant blow to a USC offensive staff that was set to begin its third year completely intact. McDonald came to USC after spending five years at Utah. He developed a reputation at both places as one of the nation’s best running back coaches and a standout recruiter.
With the Trojans, McDonald coached Travis Dye, to an All-Pac-12 Second Team selection during the 2022 season. Dye rushed for 844 yards on 145 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, with nine touchdowns. In 2023, McDonald-coached MarShawn Lloyd averaged 7.1 yards per carry on his way to 820 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Austin Jones also performed well under McDonald, tallying 477 yards and seven scores on the ground this past fall.
McDonald signed four-star running backs Quinten Joyner and A’Marion Peterson in the 2023 recruiting class and three-star back Bryan Jackson in the 2024 class.
At Utah, McDonald helped Tavion Thomas set Utah’s single-season rushing touchdown record and Zack Moss earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Utah led the Pac-12 in rushing in 2021. McDonald also coached Ty Jordan to a Freshman All-American season, AP Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year and Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in the 2020 season.
USC’s 2024 Offensive Coaching Staff
USC was set to bring back its entire offensive coaching staff for the third season under head coach Lincoln Riley.
Outside wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons came with Riley from Oklahoma. Tight ends coach Zach Hanson, offensive line coach Josh Henson and inside receivers coach Luke Huard joined the staff ahead of the 2022 season. Riley made headlines last season when he fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch during the season. Other defensive coaches not returning to USC in 2024 include cornerbacks coach Donte Williams, linebackers coach Brian Odom and rush ends coach Roy Manning.
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