USC: University of Seattle Coaches?

So far, it has worked at the University of Washington.

Steve Sarkisian, former USC offensive assistant and current Washington head coach, transformed an 0-12 joke into a competitive football team after only one season. For the first time in several years, Husky fans are excited about next season. Washington players finally know how to win and are confident in their abilities. It is still early, but it looks like Sarkisian could return the Huskies to glory.

Nick Holt, Washington’s defensive coordinator and also a Southern Cal transplant, has successfully taught the young Husky defense how to stop opposing offenses; last year, the Huskies finally showed up defensively and started making plays on the field.

Nothing is for certain, but the future looks bright in Montlake.

Yesterday, after heavy speculation, it was announced that Pete Carroll will be the next head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Carroll officially resigned as USC’s head man and addressed the Los Angeles media yesterday afternoon. A press conference is scheduled this morning that will introduce him in Seattle.

With him, Pete Carroll brings offensive assistant Jeremy Bates as offensive coordinator, and linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. as defensive coordinator. The Trojans have officially taken over football in Seattle.

But is that such a bad thing?

Since Pete Carroll took over in 2001, USC has posted a 97-19 record and is annually considered one of the best programs in the nation. The big question, however, is if Carroll’s high energy and enthusiasm will translate into the National Football League.

Pete Carroll doesn’t represent another college-to-professional coach experiment. Carroll isn’t like Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino, Steve Spurrier, Butch Davis, or any other successful college head coach who couldn’t find success in the NFL. Seattle will be Carroll’s third professional head coaching job and he has nearly fifteen years of experience in the league.

Carroll was a successful defensive assistant (defensive backs) in Buffalo and Minnesota before becoming the defensive coordinator of the New York Jets in 1990. In 1994, he was promoted to head coach in New York; after the Jets finished 6-10 following a 6-5 start, Carroll was fired.

After New York, Carroll landed in San Francisco as the team’s defensive coordinator. After a few successful years working under George Seifert, Carroll was hired as New England’s head coach.

During three years in New England, Carroll finished with a 27-21 record; not quite mediocre, as many Patriots fans claim. In addition to a winning regular season record, Carroll made two playoff appearances and managed a 1-2 postseason record. In 1999, after a “mediocre” 8-8 season, Carroll was fired as head coach of the Patriots.

After three years in New England, Carroll landed in Los Angeles. Nearly a decade and several championships later, he has an opportunity to return to the National Football League in Seattle.

Following two embarrassing seasons and nine combined victories, I’m ready to move in a new direction. But is Pete Carroll the right guy to follow? The jury is out, and only time will tell.

Southern California has been kind to Seattle so far; does Carroll’s arrival in Seattle mean more football success in the Pacific Northwest?