Reported USC hire Craig Naivar to bring versatile coaching, Texas ties

USC’s plan to hire Craig Naivar as safeties coach, as reported by Bruce Feldman, will give the Trojans a versatile coach with ties to Todd Orlando and the state of Texas.

Todd Orlando has been USC’s defensive coordinator for a little over a week and it seems he’s already identified the first hire he intends to bring in for his new staff.

Former Texas safeties coach and special teams coordinator Craig Naivar is set to be hired by USC, according to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic.

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Naivar was Orlando’s right-hand man with the Longhorns. In addition to serving as co-DC, the 24-year coaching veteran took the reins in Orlando’s absence as Texas beat Utah in the 2019 Alamo Bowl. The Longhorns won that game 38-10 with a stout defensive showing.

In 2018, Naivar tutored safety Caden Sterns to Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. DeShon Elliott was a Thorpe Award finalist in 2017.

Despite Naivar’s desire to stay on in Austin, new defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s experience as a safeties coach left him surplus to requirements.

Football Scoop reported in early January that Naivar would follow Orlando to Texas Tech when the former DC took a job as a linebackers coach with the Red Raiders. The move was never made official. Considering Naivar’s connection to Orlando, it’s no surprise he is now on track to follow Orlando to Los Angeles.

Short of additional coaching changes for the Trojans, Naivar is expected to be the final hire for the 2020 staff. With Orlando taking Clancy Pendergast’s role as DC, Naivar will step into the spot left empty by Joe DeForest, who left to coach safeties at NC State.

USC didn’t have a dedicated safeties coach in 2019, with defensive backs coach Greg Burns handing both the safeties and the cornerbacks. It stands to reason their duties will be split in 2020.

When it comes to replacing special teams coordinator and tight ends coach John Baxter, offensive quality control analyst John David Baker, Graham Harrell’s right-hand man, will be promoted to tight ends coach, according to reports. Naivar himself could take control of special teams. He had previously held that role with Texas, Kentucky, Rice, Sam Houston State and Southern Illinois.

Under Naivar, punter Michael Dickson won the Ray Guy Award and unanimous All-American honors. Kicker Cameron Dicker was a second team All-Big 12 selection in 2018.

However, it wasn’t all roses for Naivar. His special teams units in 2017 and 2018 ranked 63rd and 59th in SP+. He gave up the role in 2019 and the Longhorns rose to 16th in that measure.

In addition to his coaching experience, Naivar brings a deep connection to the state of Texas as a valuable recruiting tool. While he is not lauded as an exceptional recruiter, he has spent 21 of his 24 seasons as a coach in Texas.