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Update: Lovie Smith's agent shoots down the report.
While USC would be an incredible opportunity, Lovie Smith did not interview for that opening. Any reports to the contrary are false.
— Matt Smith (@Matt_Smith_IMG) October 14, 2013
USC has reportedly interviewed former Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith for their open position, according to Mike Mulligan of WSCR, a radio station in Chicago.
Smith was an All-American defender at Tulsa and spent time as a positional coach at the collegiate level with Tulsa, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio State before moving on to the NFL. With the Bears, he compiled an 81-63 record over nine years with three playoff appearances.
Smith was not one of the expected candidates for the position, and if the report is true, it would be a surprising move indeed -- Jack Del Rio seems the more logical choice for a defensive-minded former NFL head coach.
Dane Noble at Windy City Gridrion does not expect the move to happen.
Would he go back to coaching college football? That's hard to imagine... Smith has established himself as one of the best defensive coaches in professional football, and as a well-respected leader by players he coaches. He is an old-school technique guy, soft-spoken, and a quiet figure to the public. Not really who you would anticipate being the next head coach of a team constantly in the spotlight. Lovie doesn't seem like a Southern California type of guy, right?
Del Rio, former Trojan and current Broncos assistant, and Tony Dungy, another former NFL head coach, were previously reported to have been contacted by USC, but it turned out the person contacting them did not actually represent the school.
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