AP/Sayles

If there ever was a name that is synonymous with the proud and elite program that is Southern California football, that name is Pete Carroll. Hired near the end of 2000, Pete Carroll took the reigns of a Trojan squad that had been mediocre under the guidance of Paul Hackett. Initially, the odds were stacked against Carroll because of his absence from football for a full year or so and because there were many detractors, who thought he was not the “right fit” to lead USC's football team. Since taking over as head coach, Pete Carroll has clearly proven the naysayers wrong. Under Carroll’s tutelage, the Trojan football team has racked up victory after victory, building the University of Southern California back into one the country’s most elite football programs.

A native of California, Pete Carroll grew up in Marin County and played high school football at Redwood High School, where he earned prominence not only as a football player (where he played quarterback, wide-out, as well as defensive back), but also as a basketball player and a baseball player. Carroll's high school accolades earned him the Athlete of the Year award at Redwood High in 1969. Carroll then moved on to the College of Marin, a junior college program, where he played football for two years before transferring to the University of the Pacific. Playing free-safety at Pacific, Carroll earned All-Pacific Coast Athletic Conference honors in his two years there before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Pete Carroll subsequently tried out for the Honolulu Hawaiians of the World Football League, but ultimately had to end his football career due to shoulder problems. With professional football not an option, Carroll found himself at a crossroads in his post-football-playing career. However, because of the impression that he made at the University of Pacific, then head coach Chester Caddas elected to offer Carroll a job as a graduate assistant on his coaching staff. And, thus, Pete Carroll's coaching career began.

After earning his secondary teaching credential and Master's degree in physical education at Pacific, Carroll was hired by the University of Arkansas. It just so happens that it was with the Razorbacks that Carroll would be introduced to a number of important figures, who contributed to molding him into the successful coach that he is today. One name that might ring a bell is Lou Holtz, who happened to be the head coach of the Razorbacks at the time. Another important figure was the then defensive coordinator of the Razorbacks, Monte Kiffin. Kiffin, who is heavily regarded as one of the best defensive minds in football, was a mentor to Carroll, teaching him the intricacies associated with being a defensive coordinator. The Kiffin's and Carroll's were so close, in fact, that Carroll's wife Glena babysat for Monte’s son, Lane Kiffin, who would go on to become Carroll's offensive coordinator at USC.

From Arkansas Carroll headed to Iowa State University, where he took a job as an assistant to Earl Bruce, the Iowa state secondary coach. Bruce left Iowa State the following year for a job with Ohio State, taking Carroll with him to again work as an assistant coach in charge of the secondary. Interestingly enough, the Buckeyes would make it to the Rose Bowl in 1980 (when Carroll was still an assistant) where they would lose to none other than the Trojans of USC!

Following his stint with the Buckeyes, Carroll spent the next three years as both defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina State University before becoming the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, The University of Pacific, in 1983.

Looking to continue his rise as a coach, Carroll left Pacific after one year to take a position with the Buffalo Bills, where he was the acting defensive backs coach. The following year he took the same position with the Minnesota Vikings, a position that he held for five seasons. After his years with the Vikings, Carroll was a top candidate to take over the head coaching position for the Stanford Cardinal, a position that, luckily for Trojans fans everywhere, went to Dennis Green.

Carroll then went to work under Bruce Coslet, the head coach of the New York Jets, as defensive coordinator. His success with the Jets again opened up another head coaching opportunity, this time with the Minnesota Vikings; unfortunately, Carroll was again bested by Dennis Green, who ultimately got the job. Seeing his potential and loving his attitude and exuberance, the Jets promoted Carroll to head coach for the 1994 season. The year started out well for Carroll, whose Jets team began with a 6-4 record only to lose all momentum and flounder to a 6-10 record by the end of the season. Carroll was subsequently dismissed after one year.

After a two-year stint as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers during the 1995 and 1996 seasons, Carroll was given another head coaching opportunity, this time with the New England Patriots where he faced the daunting task of taking over for the legend that is Bill Parcells. Carroll would start off his tenure in New England with a bang, winning the AFC East division title and making the playoffs in 1997. While he made the playoffs again in 1998, the Carroll-led Patriots lost in the first round, and the next year the Patriots missed the playoffs completely after a late-season letdown. This led to Carroll's firing by New England owner Robert Kraft, who has second guessed the decision to this day.

Carroll spent another couple of years as the cornerbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks before ultimately returning to the college football ranks.

TO BE CONTINUED! Stay tuned for USC 101: Meet Pete Carroll (Part II)

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