USC hired Lonnie Maddox as Associate Director of Football Sports Performance from KSU

A lot of times in college sports, a staff change includes more than one person being hired. There will often be the main person, like a head coach, hired to the football program, and he's afforded the opportunity to bring the people who have previously worked for him along with him.

The same has applied among the strength and conditioning staff at USC. After the departure of Bennie Wylie, the Trojans hired Trumain Carroll from Kansas State as the Director of Football Sports Performance. On Friday, the team's social media page announced that Lonnie Maddox had been hired and will serve as the Trojans' Associate Director of Football Sports Performance.

While with the Wildcats, Maddox was Carroll's Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Following the KSU overseer from Manhattan to Los Angeles, he will serve in a similar role for the USC student-athletes.

In a post on X, Carroll thanked the university for the opportunity and let fans know that "the grease is about to get hot in Cali." 

This is a significant hire for a couple of reasons. Being able to work with someone already familiar with how Carroll runs the S&C program will help to implement the current efforts for the players in that department. Especially when considering that these changes are occurring in May, that becomes a little more relevant.

Strong foundation in current USC S&C room

While he was only with KSU for a year, his previous stops included being the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for all of Valdosta State athletics for several years.

In other words, he brings an enormous amount of experience and knowledge to the building. From taking a glimpse at his social media activity, Maddox isn't too terribly active on the X platform, but when he is, he is advocating for his players.

To be able to bring someone that has experience working with the new director and who enters the staff with the amount of mentorship hours in his own right, this is a highly positive hire for an area that had some concern not too long ago.