USC defensive backs coach Marvin Sanders fired, according to report

The USC Trojans will be parting ways with their secondary coach. Scott Schrader of 247 Sports reports that Marvin Sanders will not be retained.

Interestingly, USC did make strides as a pass defense from 2011 to 2012. The Trojans improved from 102nd to 53rd in passing yards given up and snared 19 interceptions this season after only snagging nine last year. But USC's record dipped from 10-2 to 7-6, and that might have been a more important factor than all the others listed.

Sanders was hired as the new defensive backs coach for USC this past offseason after Willie Mack Garza was forced to leave due to his connection with Willie Lyles at Tennessee. Sanders had originally signed onto be the defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic before the USC job came available. He'd also been the secondary coach at Nebraska from 2008-11 and served there in a previous stint in 2003. He was co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at North Carolina from 2004 to 2006.

Almost the entire USC Trojans defensive staff is getting an overhaul this season. Monte Kiffin is on his way back to the NFL as defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. Former Cal defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast has taken his place. Scottie Hazelton has departed as USC linebacker coach to join Brian Polian as his new defensive coordinator at Nevada. Only defensive line coach Ed Orgeron still remains.