USC coach Clay Helton offered the defensive coordinator’s position to former Trojans’ assistant coach Clancy Pendergast, according to sources close to the situation.
However, Pendergast has not accepted the position because he prefers coaching in the NFL, sources said. He is currently the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Helton and Pendergast worked together in 2013 when Pendergast was hired by former USC coach Lane Kiffin to be the Trojans’ defensive coordinator. Some sources said Pendergast might prefer Helton wait to hire a defensive coordinator in case the 49ers make staff changes in January.
Helton said he will “take his time” before he replaces the four coaches he fired after USC lost to Stanford, 41-22, in the Pacific-12 Conference title game.