Update: Lovie Smith has denied Jason La Canfora’s report, according to Jay Glazer.The last time Smith was reported to have interviewed with USC, his agent denied.
Lovie Smith reportedly denies interviewing for USC coaching job
It looks like the Trojans are leaning toward going with a former NFL coach.
Just heard from Lovie Smith who was taken aback by report he interviewed for USC. Says absolutely did not and has zero interest
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) November 3, 2013
USC has interviewed Love Smith for its head coaching vacancy and are also considering Jon Gruden and Steve Sarkisian for the position, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora is reporting.
Former head coach Lane Kiffin was fired after a blowout loss to Arizona State, with Ed Orgeron taking over as interim head coach. The Trojans are 3-1 since the coaching switch, including a perfect 3-0 record in conference play, and are now bowl eligible.
CBS Sports also says Gruden is the Trojans’ top target, but that the former Buccaneers’ head man will only return to coaching for an NFL gig.
Smith was a linebackers and defensive backs coach in college with Arizona State, Tennessee and Ohio State, among others, but made his name as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. In nine years with the team, he posted an 81-63 record and made it to Super Bowl XLI.
A radio station in Chicago previously reported that Smith had been interviewed for the position -- a report which the coach’s agent denied. Sarkisian spoke of his respect for USC’s program when asked about the position, and rumors have flown about USC possibly contacting Gruden soon.
Sarkisian was on our list of 11 potential candidates for the job, but Smith and Gruden were not.
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