Confirming what was first reported a week ago, former Trojan Kenechi Udeze has been formally announced as USC’s new defensive line coach.
Udeze was a member of the Wild Bunch II as a player, helping the Trojans win the 2003 AP national championship and securing selection as a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Udeze tied a record with 14 career forced fumbles.
After completing four successful seasons as a professional, Udeze contracted lymphoblastic leukemia -- a blood cancer -- that cut short his career. He was named the winner of the 2008 Ed Block Courage Award before retiring in the summer of 2009. Udeze then jumped into coaching, working with defensive lines and strength staffs with the Seattle Seahawks, Washington, the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh.
“There are times in your career when you meet someone and just know that they are going to be a superstar in the profession,” USC head coach Clay Helton said in a statement. “Kenechi is that person. I was blown away by his attention to detail with technique and fundamentals in our recent bowl game preparation and in the interview process. His knowledge of the game is something that is going to be critical to the development of our young defensive line. Kenechi is a Trojan to the core and his passion for USC is felt by all.”
