USC football has largely finalized its coaching staff after officially naming three defensive assistant coaches Tuesday to fill out first-year Defensive Coordinator Gary Patterson’s group.

Among them, Mike Ekeler, formerly Nebraska’s special teams coordinator, will take over as linebackers coach as well as special teams coordinator for USC, Head Coach Lincoln Riley announced Tuesday.

Ekeler is entering his 10th season as a special teams coordinator after turning around the Cornhusker unit during his one-season stint with the team last year, leading them to top 15 in the nation rankings in kick return defense and yards per kick return.

He was similarly successful in the same role with Tennessee, where he served as outside linebackers coach for four seasons. In 2023, Ekeler’s kicker Charles Campbell went a perfect 49-of-49 on extra-point attempts, a feat standout redshirt freshman kicker Ryon Sayeri nearly replicated with 48 spotless makes last season. 

Before making the switch to predominantly special teams, Ekeler served in various linebacker-coaching roles at top programs like Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska and North Carolina. In 2013, Ekeler spent one season coaching USC’s linebackers, including All-Pac 12 Second Team awardee Hayes Pullard, who was later drafted to the NFL.

“This is an exciting return to USC for Mike and his family,” Riley said in a news release. “Mike’s special teams and linebacker units are elite … We’re thrilled to welcome him back to Los Angeles as part of our program.” 

Patterson, a 65-year-old College Football Hall of Fame coach who was TCU’s head coach from 2001 to 2021, initially appeared set to inherit much of former DC D’Anton Lynn staff from last year. However, two big-name assistants who were also rumored internal candidates for the DC job left: recruiting guru defensive line coach Eric Henderson, who left for the NFL, and defensive backs coach Doug Belk, whose contract was not renewed and who will also reportedly head to the NFL.

These openings allowed Patterson to bring in Paul Gonzales, who coached under Patterson for six seasons at TCU, to coach safeties and serve as the defensive pass game coordinator.

“His experience working alongside Coach Patterson combined with his strong football acumen and energy will have an immediate impact on our defense,” Riley said in a news release. “He will quickly elevate the development and performance of our safeties.”

Gonzales most recently served as cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator at Baylor, the same school Patterson most recently worked for as a strategist in 2024. He spent a total of 13 years at TCU, including three as cornerbacks coach and the rest as safeties coach. 

Gonzales coached six future NFL safeties at TCU and led his defenses to top statlines throughout his time with the Horned Frogs. He will hope to rebuild a position group that lost both of its stars in Bishop Fitzgerald and Kamari Ramsey to the NFL Draft.

The third announcement Tuesday was an internal partial-replacement for Henderson, the No. 1 recruiting assistant coach in the country, per 247 Sports. Skyler Jones, who previously served as an analyst under Henderson, will take over as defensive tackles coach, Riley announced Tuesday.

Amid the hiring process for defensive coordinator, multiple players, including star freshman Jahkeem Stewart, expressed support for Henderson’s bid for the DC spot, so the promotion of Jones may help continuity in a very different-looking defensive coaching staff.

“He has earned this opportunity by consistently developing high-level performers, building meaningful relationships with our players, and demonstrating his commitment to the standard of excellence we expect in our program,” Riley said in a news release. “He will continue to enhance our defensive line and elevate the talent in our room.”

Most of USC’s remaining key coaches, including offensive line coach Zach Hanson and defensive end coach Shaun Nua, are reportedly staying with the team. Linebackers coach Rob Ryan’s status is still unclear with the hiring of Ekeler, though the Los Angeles Times reported that he is with the team as of late last week.