USC Confirms Oklahoma State’s Bob Connelly as Offensive Line Coach

The USC Trojans confirmed the hiring of Oklahoma State assistant coach Bob Connelly as their new offensive line coach Wednesday, finally filling the position left vacant by Tim Drevno.

The newest USC assistant tweeted a message to the Trojan family on Monday, two days before being officially announced:

USC officially welcomes @Coach_Connelly, formerly of Alabama & 3 Pac-12 schools, to the #TrojanFamily as OL coach and run game coordinator.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) February 11, 2015

Dan Weber of USCFootball.com first reported the prospect of Connelly being hired before National Signing Day, but the Trojans waited until the 2015 recruiting class was wrapped up to make it official.

Drevno was hired away from the Trojans by Jim Harbaugh, who he had worked with at Stanford and the 49ers, and Michigan after a season at USC.

Connelly has coached in the NCAA for 18-years with extensive experience around the country, in the Pac-12, SEC and Big-12. Most recently he spent just under a year with Oklahoma State.

Before joining the Cowboys in 2014, he coached at Arizona State from 2012-2014, UTEP from 2008-2011, UCLA in 2007, Alabama from 2003-2006 and Washington State from 2001-2002.

Though Connelly can claim experience with many different styles in multiple conferences, there are a number of question marks surrounding his effectiveness.

Last year’s Oklahoma State offensive line left plenty to be desired.

In the running game they were also near the bottom of the conference, with an average of just 3.51 yards per carry.

To be fair, Oklahoma State’s offense is geared towards the pass.

Unfortunately on that score, the Cowboys gave up the most sacks and tackles for loss in the Big-12.

Still, around Oklahoma State, Connelly seemed to earn accolades for his personability and work ethic and there where signs of life and development on the line as the season went on:

"“If you come through the office late at night, you’re probably going to see Bob Connelly recruiting,” Yurcich said. “From what I’ve noticed, he’s done a great job managing that group. Those guys are very receptive to him and take to his coaching very well … He’s had a lot of patience with these guys. At the same time, discipline is very important. He’s not soft.”"

USC boasts a great deal of potential on the offensive line, with the return of the entire starting line up from 2014, including All-Pac-12 center Max Tuerk, left tackle Chad Wheeler, right tackle Zach Banner and the three freshman starters Viane Talamaivao, Toa Lobendahn and Damien Mama.

They also added one of the top offensive line prospects in the country — Chuma Edoga — as an early enrollee this spring.

What say you? Do you like the hiring of Bob Connelly for the USC offensive line?

More from Reign of Troy

Home/USC FOOTBALL NEWS