How previous USC football coaches fared in first season
The first year
USC will be trying to improve on last year’s 3-9 record under new coach Will Muschamp. A look at how the head coaches since 1966 did in their first season at USC:
Year | Coach | Record | Conference | How they did |
1966 | Paul Dietzel | 1-9 | 1-3 ACC | His best season was 7-4 in 1969 with an ACC title. |
1975 | Jim Carlen | 7-5 | Independent | His teams won eight games in 1979 and 80. |
1982 | Richard Bell | 4-7 | Independent | Beat Pacific, Richmond, Cincinnati and Navy in only season. |
1983 | Joe Morrison | 5-6 | Independent | Beat Southern Cal 38-14 to set up 10-win season in 1984. |
1989 | Sparky Woods | 6-4-1 | Independent | Lost 45-0 to Clemson and never won more than 6 games. |
1994 | Brad Scott | 7-5 | 4-4 SEC | Won Carquest Bowl but never won 7 games again. |
1999 | Lou Holtz | 0-11 | 0-8 SEC | Scored 10 or less in nine games. Won 8 in 2000 and 9 in 2001. |
2005 | Steve Spurrier | 7-5 | 5-3 SEC | Won five SEC games in a row, including win against Florida. |