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Breaking down the layers of Kliff Kingsbury to USC

On3 imageby:Jesse Simonton•04/12/23•

JesseReSimonton

Kliff Kingsbury
(Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Kliff Kingsbury cut his one-way sabbatical to Thailand short, as the former Arizona Cardinals head coach joined USC’s staff as a senior offensive analyst for the 2023 season. 

The Trojans announced the hire Tuesday, with head coach Lincoln Riley telling ESPN’s Pete Thamel, “He’s going to be invaluable to have on the staff. It was the right fit for him and us. He knows a number of the staff guys, there’s a familiarity and a comfort level there.”

Kingsbury, who was fired by Arizona after a 4-13 season, comes to USC for a second stint — although he never coached a game with the Trojans the first go-round. After getting canned from Texas Tech in 2018, the now 43-year-old assistant was hired as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator by former head coach Clay Helton. He didn’t last a month in Los Angeles though, as he resigned to take the Cardinals’ opening several weeks later. 

Kingsbury’s return to LA is a nice addition by Riley, who is adding another valued QB whisper to the coaching staff. The two have a relationship dating back more than 20 years, when Kingsbury was a fifth-year senior at Texas Tech and Riley was a wide-eyed walk-on freshman who quickly realized his future was in coaching and not as a player. 

Now the two have reunited in Southern California. 

Kingsbury has $27 million reasons not to need a job like an analyst position, and yet, he’s known as a coach who truly loves to grind tape and design plays. Those will be his two primary responsibilities, and the move keeps him in the game. 

Although Kliff has struggled as a head coach, no one can discount his ability to identify and coach quarterbacks. This is a guy who identified and developed the likes of Case Keenum, Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb. 

Oh yea, and Patrick Mahomes.

Ever heard of him?

At USC, Kingsbury will get to work behind the scenes with the nation’s best quarterback in Caleb Williams. He’ll also help tutor 5-star freshman Malachi Nelson. Kingsbury will undoubtedly be a nice added resource in the room. 

The pairing of Lincoln Riley and Kliff Kingsbury is certainly a rich-get-richer situation. Both are among the best offensive minds in all of football. 

USC’s offense was already awesome in 2022 — No. 3 nationally in total offense, yards per play and scoring — so adding Kingsbury to the mix is like a fancy sports car getting a fresh set of tires. 


Did it need it? No. But it doesn’t hurt. 

The reaction to the hire by some would’ve made you think Lincoln Riley just nabbed the best damn coach on the market. Maybe he did, but Kliff Kingsbury isn’t going to help USC solve its defensive issues in 2023. 

So the hire is nice for USC, but it’s great for Kliff Kingsbury. He can “coach” with the Trojans as an analyst for as long as he wants, patiently waiting for his next on-field opportunity. He’s living in LA with no pressure or spotlight. And he can absolutely afford to be choosy about his next job. 

There is one potential domino from the news that could — emphasis on could — greatly benefit the Trojans in 2023, though. 

We know Kingsbury has the track record, resume and NFL background that is very attractive to prospective quarterbacks. Well, the Trojans are deep in the hunt to land the No. 1 prospect in the 2024 class in 5-star Dylan Raiola. They’re battling Georgia, who reportedly has the latest momentum in a rollercoaster recruitment, and Nebraska, but maybe Kliff’s addition on staff helps tip the scales back in USC’s favor?

We’ll find out.