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USC Football: Top 10 coaches in program history

By Quinn Douglas

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Coach Pete Carroll of the USC Trojans leads his team to the field prior to the start of the NCAA college football game against Arizona Wildcats at the Los Angeles Coliseum on December 5, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 05: Coach Pete Carroll of the USC Trojans leads his team to the field prior to the start of the NCAA college football game against Arizona Wildcats at the Los Angeles Coliseum on December 5, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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Throughout the history of USC football, there have been a number of top-notch coaches at the helm. How do the top 10 rank?

Throughout the early beginnings of college football in America, all of the powerhouse schools were located east of the Mississippi River and along the eastern seaboard. Schools such as Michigan, Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Penn and the University of Chicago reigned among the elite’s throughout nearly the first half century of college football. But similar to the idea of “Manifest Destiny”, the game began spreading to the wild west.

The first program to rise up and make a name for themselves were the University of Southern California Trojans, who rose to prominence in the 1920’s. The Trojans have played football since 1888 and have compiled an overall record of 833-339-54 and boast a .701 winning percentage, both statistics rank in the top 10 in all of college football. USC’s program has claimed 11 national championships and won 39 conference championships as members of the PCC/Pac-12 conference.

USC is also remembered for the star talent they have churned out for many generations. Notable early stars include Frank Gifford, Mike Garrett and O.J. Simpson, the latter two winning the school’s first two Heisman Trophy’s. Since then the Trojans have been home to several more Heisman Trophy winners, such as Charles White, Marcus Allen, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and Reggie Bush, prior to his vacating of the award in 2010.

Along with these great players, however, come legendary coaches. The expected names on this list include Howard Jones, John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carroll. On the other hand there will be names on this list that will have some digging through the archives for more information about them. This list will showcase the 10 greatest coaches in USC football history.

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