Jan. 7, 2009

Jethro Franklin is returning to USC as the defensive line coach, while secondary coach Rocky Seto is taking on the additional duty of defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Ken Norton is adding the title of assistant head coach for the defense, Trojan head coach Pete Carroll announced today (Jan. 7).

Franklin, 43, held the same position with USC in 2005 when the Trojans went 12-1 and played in the BCS Championship Game. He then went on to coach the defensive lines with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006 and the Houston Texans the past 2 seasons (2007-08). He has 18 years of coaching experience, all handling the defensive line. He began by coaching 8 years (1991-98) at his alma mater, Fresno State, then spent the 1999 season at UCLA before coaching 5 years (2000-04) with the Green Bay Packers.

Seto, 32, has spent his entire coaching career at USC, beginning in 1999, after playing for the Trojans. He began as a volunteer assistant in 1999 and an administrative graduate assistant in 2000, then was made a graduate assistant in 2001 and 2002 upon Carroll's arrival at USC. He then was elevated to fulltime status, working with the Trojan safeties in 2003, the linebackers in 2004 and 2005 and the secondary the past 3 seasons (2006-08).

Norton, 42, has been working with the Trojan linebackers the past 5 seasons (2004-08) after an illustrious playing career at UCLA and with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.