Faith, perseverance have made Seto’s unusual journey possible

Sometimes, all you need is faith and trust.

And having faith isn’t just trusting in Kobe Bryant to make the game-winning shot for the Los Angeles Lakers every single night.

No, this goes beyond that kind of faith and trust.

Experience · Before he left to join the Seattle Seahawks Rocky Seto spent 11 seasons working on the USC staff and was the defensive coordinator under Pete Carroll in 2009. - Photo courtesy of USC Sports Information

Haruki Rocky Seto served on the USC football staff for 11 years, dating back to when former coaches John Robinson and Paul Hackett ran things around town.

Seto recently left his post at USC and accepted a role with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, but his career in football has been most notably characterized by his time at USC as a coach.

But his journey with USC did not begin that way.

In 1997, Seto transferred from Mt. San Antonio Community College to USC and walked onto the football team his junior year.

“I was very fortunate to walk on. I thank God that coach Robinson allowed me to play,” Seto said. “I am very grateful that he gave me that opportunity.”

During his senior year, Seto was awarded an athletic scholarship, and after the season he had intentions to attend graduate school and become a physical therapist.

Even though his parents wanted him to pursue a graduate degree, he felt there was another career waiting.

“I felt I was led by the Lord to go into coaching. I talked to coach [Paul] Hackett, he let me volunteer on staff and God gave me the opportunity,” Seto said.

Throughout the years, Seto worked on the football staff with the safeties, linebackers and secondary.

But staying with Trojan football wasn’t  all easy.

In 2006, Seto was offered a job to coach for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. But he decided to remain at USC, sticking to a promise he had made to a former USC football player.

“The Bible says, ‘Let your yes be yes, and your no be no,’” Seto said. “I told [him] I won’t leave for the NFL. Just worry about school and football. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Seto still decided to stay at USC even after former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian offered him the defensive coordinator position at Washington two years later.

Last year he was rewarded and promoted to be the defensive coordinator for one of college football’s top programs.

But Seto didn’t really think of jockeying for a spot at the top.

“It was never my intention to become [defensive coordinator]. I always wanted to do my best. Whether I was a walk-on player or even when I was a volunteer [assistant] getting coffee or making Xerox copies for the coaches … it just worked out for me and God kept opening up opportunities for me,” Seto said.

And one of those opportunities was being able to work with arguably one of college football’s greatest coaches in Pete Carroll.

“It was awesome working with [Carroll].” Seto said. “I learned so much about football, and I learned so much about coaching. It really was a blessed time working under him, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

Last season the Trojans football team won only nine games and played in a non-BCS bowl game for the first time in eight seasons, which seemed like an eternity to a program so used to winning.

And even though some people blamed the defense for losing close games throughout the up-and-down season, Seto’s unit didn’t suffer from a leader out of touch with his defense.

“Coach Seto had a tremendous football I.Q., and he knew our defense so well. He knew our defense as good as [anybody],” redshirt junior linebacker Chris Galippo said. “He was a really great listener, a great communicator and a great teacher.”

But Seto wasn’t just a coach to his players. He was something more.

“Seto was the type of guy you could always talk to and you knew he’d be real to you,” Galippo said. “You knew you could go to him and talk about real-life stuff that’s not just about football.”

After the Emerald Bowl win to end the 2009 season, Carroll decided to leave the dynasty he created for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, and the rest of the Trojan football staff was overhauled.

Unsure of what the future held, Seto held onto what he knew.

“You never put your hope in temporary things like your career and things that can change in the blink of an eye,” Seto said. “You need to put your hope in a thing that doesn’t disappoint, and that’s a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Seto’s influential role on his players and the people around him was evident through his actions and words.

“He’s an influence on everybody,” Galippo said. “He has a lot of respect for his religion, and you could just really see his faith living through him.”

Though Seto is no longer part of the Trojan football staff, he is still part of the Trojan family.

From the time he walked onto the team his junior year of college until last season, Seto enjoyed every single minute.

“It has been a great 13 years at USC, and I feel fortunate that the Lord let this happen,” Seto said. “I’ve had my dream job for the last 13 years. My family and I are at peace with what has happened.”

Now, as the defensive quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks, Seto might have a new job and new home but one thing is for certain — his faith.

“No one has to worry about coach Seto,” Galippo said. “His faith is so strong … He’s headed in the right direction.”

Sometimes, all you need is faith and trust — and that’s exactly what keeps coach Rocky Seto going.