USC has fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, head coach Lincoln Riley announced on Sunday.
Trojans defensive line coach Shaun Nua and inside linebackers coach Brian Odom will serve as USC’s co-defensive coordinators for the remainder of the season. In addition to the change of duties for Nua and Odom, defensive analyst Taylor Mays will serve as an on-field assistant coach along with working with the team’s safeties.
Grinch’s departure comes nearly a day after No. 20 USC suffered a 52–42 loss to No. 5 Washington (9–0, 6–0) and allowed the Huskies a total of 572 yards of offense which included 256 from Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Prior to the Trojans’ loss on Saturday, USC had given up 213 points in its past five games, the most of any five-game span in program history, per Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde.
