Tyson Helton, Neil Callaway Officially Join USC Football Staff

USC officially announced the hires of Tyson Helton as running back coach and passing game coordinator and Neil Callaway as offensive line coach.

Reports had circulated last week that the two Western Kentucky assistant coaches would be joining the Trojan staff before Clay Helton made it official on Monday.

“We are very excited to welcome Tyson and Neil to the Trojan Family,” said Helton in his press release on the hires. “Their experience and knowledge will be a huge benefit to our players as well as our football program.  Both have been highly successful coordinators and we look forward to the fresh energy and ideas they will bring. I have watched them produce a pair of Top 10 offenses that averaged more than 44 points a game each of the past 2 years. We look forward to them helping bring the same explosiveness to our offense at USC.”

Tyson is Clay Helton’s brother and has been the co-offensive coordinator at Western Kentucky since 2014. Under his watch the Hilltoppers were among one of the most prolific offenses in the country.

LISTEN: Discussing the Hiring of Tyson Helton and Neil Callaway

That Tyson joins the Trojans as the running backs coach is interesting, considering his role as quarterbacks coach at Western Kentucky and the retention of Johnny Nansen, who coached USC’s running backs in 2015. Nansen has experience coaching on both sides of the ball, so he could easily be moved around to coach another unit.

Tyson’s positioning on the staff may also be related to the status of Marques Tuiasosopo who was promoted to quarterbacks coach after Helton took over head coaching duties. It was rumored that Tuisasosopo might leave USC to take a job at another program, but this latest development suggests he could stay on in his capacity as quarterbacks coach for 2016.

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There was also some speculation that Tyson would be brought in as a co-offensive coordinator alongside the newly-promoted Tee Martin, but that possibility can now be put to rest.

Tyson brings along with him offensive line coach Neil Callaway, who has been with Western Kentucky since 2013. Interestingly enough, Callaway was Helton’s offensive coordinator at Houston where he played quarterback. In addition to serving as Houston’s OC, Callaway has a wealth of experience as the offensive coordinator at Alabama and Georgia, as well as serving as head coach at UAB.

With Tyson and Callaway officially on staff, the Trojans need only hire a defensive coordinator and defensive position coaches to end their hiring process for the new year.