Tag: Craig Naivar

USC Hires Former Longhorn Assistant Craig Naivar

USC has hired former UT assistant Craig Naivar as their safeties coach. With UT, Naivar was the co-DC, safeties coach, and ST coordinator.

USC has hired former Texas assistant coach Craig Naivar as their safeties coach. With the Longhorns, Naivar spent time as the co-defensive coordinator, safeties coach, and special teams coordinator. He had been on Tom Herman’s staff since he was hired as head coach in 2017.

After firing Todd Orlando after the season, Naivar took over as the defensive coordinator for the bowl game against Utah. It was the best performance of the season for the Texas defense, only allowing 11 points to a high powered Utes offense.

Naivar follows Todd Orlando to Southern Cal as he was hired as their defensive coordinator earlier this month. It will be the pair’s sixth consecutive season working together, going all the way back to their time at Houston.

The Trojan defense struggled last season, giving up nearly 30 points a game. The USC pass defense was the main issue as teams were able to throw for 246 yards per game against them. Orlando and Naivar will have a big task on their hand, trying to turn around a struggling defense in 2020.

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Texas has fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando

Texas has officially fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. After three seasons in Austin, the defense has regressed in all three years.

According to Pete Thamel, Texas has officially fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. There were rumors of this happening before the Texas Tech game, but it seems like it will be official.

The Longhorn defense has struggled this year, allowing 29 points per game. Allowing 21+ points in every single Big 12 and against LSU, the defense allowed 30 or more points in six different games.

Ranking second to last in the Big 12, Texas allowed 306 passing yards a game. The rush defense ranked well in the Big 12, only allowing 140 yards per game, but Big 12 offenses exploded in the air against the Longhorns.

Orlando had been the defensive coordinator for Texas since Tom Herman’s first season in charge. They have regressed every single year, allowing more and more points.

Even though Texas only returned three starters on defense, a lot more was expected from the unit. An injury-riddled season also contributed to the poor season, but it was not enough to save Orlando’s job.

Craig Naivar is expected to take over for the bowl game. Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com is reporting that former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash is the top candidate to take over the position in the future.

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