Overview
- Patterson was formally introduced at the John McKay Center on Jan. 28 after taking over for D’Anton Lynn, who left to become Penn State’s defensive coordinator.
- He said USC’s defense will be grounded in his 4-2-5 principles with tweaks informed by film study and recent consulting stops at Texas and Baylor.
- USC kept most defensive assistants in place; secondary coach Doug Belk departed, and Paul Gonzales is reported as the expected hire to lead the secondary.
- Patterson cited USC’s talent base, recruiting surge and the challenging 2026 conference schedule as key factors in his return to full-time coaching.
- A 2026 College Football Hall of Fame inductee and TCU’s winningest coach, he set a goal of raising the defense to the offense’s level and has begun intensive evaluations ahead of spring work.