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USC hires former Trojans star Kenechi Udeze as DL coach
USC has hired one of its own to coach the defensive line.
Trojans head coach Clay Helton announced that Kenechi Udeze will serve as the team’s defensive line coach. Udeze played for the Trojans from 2001-03 and totaled 135 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 28 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Udeze declared for the NFL after his junior season and was picked 20th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. He started 47 games in his first four seasons, but a 2008 cancer diagnosis cut his playing days short. Udeze retired in 2009 after a comeback attempt. His cancer is in remission.
After graduated from USC in 2010, Udeze turned his attention toward coaching. He served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Washington from 2009-11 and also had stints at Pittsburgh and with the Seattle Seahawks, Vikings and Buffalo Bills.
He spent the 2015 season with USC with the strength staff, but was bumped up to defensive line coach on an interim basis during the team’s preparation for the Holiday Bowl.
“There are times in your career when you meet someone and just know that they are going to be a superstar in the profession,” said Helton. “Kenechi is that person. I was blown away by his attention to detail with technique and fundamentals in our recent bowl game preparation and in the interview process. His knowledge of the game is something that is going to be critical to the development of our young defensive line. Kenechi is a Trojan to the core and his passion for USC is felt by all.”
The Trojans finished 8-6 in 2015.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
