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Urban Meyer reacts to USC hiring Gary Patterson: 'What a great hire'

Danby: Daniel Hager01/29/26DanielHagerOn3

Following a multi-season hiatus, former TCU head coach Gary Patterson has been named USC‘s defensive coordinator for the 2026 season. Patterson has served as special assistant to the head coach/consultant at Texas and Baylor in past seasons, but the 2026 season will mark his official return to a high-ranking position on a Power-Four football staff.

Patterson served 22 seasons at TCU‘s head coach (2000-2021), leading the Horned Frogs to a 181-79 record with six conference championships. The Rozel, KS native was just named to the College Football Hall of Fame, and now returns to the sideline with USC. He succeeds former Trojan DC D’Anton Lynn, who departed for the Penn State DC job.

Fellow College Football Hall of Famer Urban Meyer raved about the hire of Patterson on the latest edition of ‘The Triple Option‘. Meyer’s team faced Patterson’s team just once in their illustrious careers (No. 4 Ohio State vs No. 15 TCU on Sept. 15, 2018), but Meyer did not coach due to being placed on administrative leave prior to the season.

Urban Meyer raves about USC’s hire of former TCU HC Gary Patterson

“Gary and I grew up in the profession together. He’s one of the finest coaches out there,” Meyer said. “What a hire. I think Lincoln Riley has proven that he’s not going to change. You saw it at Oklahoma and you saw it at USC. Very good offenses, bad defenses, and they lose at the end. They win, but they can’t finish the job.

“There’s a couple of choices you have. Do what Ryan Day did, give up play calling, and become a coach and hire someone. He’s not done that and he won’t do it now. I’m sure the AD asked him to do it for us to take the next step. Instead, they went and got a former head coach. I think Gary is gonna be a big bonus for those guys. He was one of the best coaches I was ever around growing up in the profession.”

The addition of Patterson was a much needed one for a USC program that was middle of the pack in the Big Ten last season in yards/points allowed per game. The Trojans finished with a 9-4 record, and allowed at least 30 points in all four losses.

Their final loss, coincidentally enough, came against Patterson’s former program. TCU knocked off No. 16 USC 30-27 in overtime of the Alamo Bowl to close out the Trojans’ 2025 campaign.