USC head coach Pete Carroll announced that Carl Smith has been hired as the quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach of offense on Tuesday.
Smith, who has a wealth of coaching experience on the college and pro level, will also handle the play-calling duties for the Trojans.
The 60-year-old assistant will call the plays from the sidelines, and offensive coordinator John Morton will remain in the booth during games.
While Smith will call the plays and help devise the game plan, Morton will run the offensive meetings during the week.
Smith has been the frontrunner to become the quarterbacks coach since John Morton was named the offensive coordinator on Dec.12th and has spent some time on campus during Rose Bowl practices.
“This is the longest interview of all time,” Pete Carroll joked when asked about Smith in December.
Smith has 30-plus years of coaching experience including a stop at USC, where he served as the quarterbacks coach on USC’s 2004 BCS National Championship team and coached Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart.
He has also served as an offensive coordinator in the NFL for 13 seasons.
Smith spent eleven seasons (1986-96) as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, and two seasons (2005-06) with the Jacksonville Jaguars under former Trojan Jack Del Rio.
Smith’s wealth of experience is a good balance for first-time offensive coordinator John Morton.
When Morton became the offensive coordinator in December, he welcomed the chance to work with a veteran coach like Smith.
“He’s got a wealth of experience,” Morton said. “I’d be a fool not to want a guy like that, and learn for him. It would be awesome.”
Pete Carroll also announced the hiring of Mark Jackson as the senior associate athletic director for football.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions you can reach Kevin Carden at kevin@scplaybook.com