USC Reportedly Set to Hire Ronnie Bradford to Coach Defensive Backs

USC is reportedly set to hire Louisiana Tech’s Ronnie Bradford to coach defensive backs for the Trojans in 2016.

UPDATE: USC officially announced Bradford’s hire in a press release Wednesday afternoon.

Here’s what head coach Clay Helton had to say about his newest assistant:

"“We are extremely pleased to welcome Ronnie Bradford to the Trojan Family. His 17 years of experience in the NFL as both a player and a coach jumped out to us immediately.  I am very impressed with his ability to coach technique and fundamentals at the defensive back position.  He is a true technician.  His energy and personality is infectious and will be valuable in recruiting.  There also is a terrific chemistry between Ronnie and our new defensive coordinator, Clancy Pendergast, after having worked together both at the Kansas City Chiefs and at Cal.”"

The report comes via Sports Illustrated’s Thayer Evens, just two days after the official hiring of defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. Bradford was an administrative assistant at Cal while Pendergast was the Bears defensive coordinator.

The former Colorado defensive back who played a decade in the NFL also has coaching experience as a defensive backs coach and assistant with the Denver Broncos and a defensive assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at Louisiana Tech since 2013.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

The Bulldog defense generated 18 interceptions in 2013, 26 interceptions in 2014 and 13 interceptions in 2015. They also broke up 44, 66, and 55 passes in those years respectively. However, Louisiana Tech’s pass defense was ranked 94th nationally in 2015 and 121st in 2013 by S&P+. In 2014 they were ranked 22nd.

Bradford’s hire comes in the wake of linebacker coach Peter Sirmon’s departure to become the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. With quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo expected to leave USC to fill the same position at UCLA under promoted offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu, the Trojans have two additional vacancies on the coaching staff left to fill.

Considering Pendergast’s experience coaching defensive backs, the addition of Bradford in that role suggests that USC will bring in a defensive line coach and linebackers coach rather than have the defensive coordinator pull double duty coaching the secondary. However, Pendergast could cover linebacker coaching duties if Helton opts to add an additional offensive coach.