Chad Bowden and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman labored collectively to construct a program that led the Combating Irish to a nationwide championship recreation berth.
So, when USC employed Bowden away from South Bend on Jan. 24 to change into the Trojans’ basic supervisor — an ever-growing title and place within the fashionable faculty soccer panorama — a giant query remained: What would the connection between Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley and Bowden appear to be?
Bowden, whose wage is anticipated to exceed $1 million, accelerated the bonding course of by transferring in with the pinnacle coach. The 30-year-old former basic supervisor and assistant athletic director at Notre Dame packed his baggage and settled — not less than quickly — into Riley’s dwelling.
“My wife, you know, I told her that it’s the happiest I’ve been in a very long time,” he added.
Riley, coming into his fourth season at USC, mentioned the meat of Bowden’s job will come from managing work on the recruiting path and off-the-field enterprise. He mentioned Bowden’s duties will primarily embrace scouting, recruiting and wage cap administration.
At Notre Dame, Bowden assembled three top-15 recruiting courses, in line with 247Sports.com, since changing into the combating Irish’s director of recruiting in 2022 earlier than being promoted to basic supervisor in March 2024. USC’s 2025 recruiting class — now together with Nationwide Signing Day signees linebacker AJ Tuitele and defensive finish Jadyn Ramos — is ranked No. 17 within the nation by 247Sports, whereas the still-developing 2026 group of gamers sits at fourth total.
“One of his biggest goals — our biggest goals — with this was to allow our coaches to coach more,” Riley mentioned. “I know, as crazy as that sounds, a lot of our coaches get pulled in so many different directions that you want to be able to within your organization, whatever strengths people bring to the table, you want to accentuate those as much as you possibly can.”
Coming off back-to-back seasons ending outdoors of the Related Press high 25 ballot, Riley mentioned he’s needed to change facets of this system to push towards loftier outcomes.
“We’re not content with any part of this program being average or even being good, that’s not our mentality,” Riley mentioned. “Any part of this program we’re evaluating on, ‘Is it at a national championship level?’ If it’s not, is it trending that way quickly? If it’s not, we need to fix it.”
Riley credited athletic director Jennifer Cohen, deputy athletic director Jay Hilbrands and former basic supervisor Dave Emerick (who’s now the senior affiliate athletic director for soccer administration) for assembling the employees. USC has formally employed two of Bowden’s former Notre Dame colleagues: Dre Brown, the chief director of scouting and personnel, and Zaire Turner, assistant athletic director of recruiting operations.
Whereas Bowden mentioned he wouldn’t get into specifics concerning how USC will make the most of title, picture and likeness in recruiting, he laid out the Trojans’ technique going ahead. He famous that a lot of his work shall be seen within the 2026 recruiting class relatively than heading into the 2025 season.
“We’re going to major in high school and we’re going to minor in the [transfer] portal,” Bowden mentioned. “We’re going to be aggressive, and we’re going to attack. Our businesses change every single day. Something will change and we’re going to be on offense every single day. We’re going to attack it. We’re going to attack it through high school. We’re going to attack it through the state of California.”
Bowden, recognized for his unorthodox recruiting strategies at Notre Dame, joked that Riley might be “jumping out of a helicopter” or newly employed affiliate head coach and linebackers coach Rob Ryan might “hop down in a parachute” to woo recruits.
He mentioned the relationships — to date — have been on the identical web page as his employees continues to assemble a recreation plan for USC soccer recruiting within the months and years forward.
“Coach Riley, Jen — there’s an alignment, there’s synergy within how we’re going to approach this thing, how we’re going to attack it,” mentioned Bowden, whose father, Jim, was an MLB basic supervisor for the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. “Any time you have balsamic steaks that are phenomenal… you have a pretty great relationship.”
Ryan’s rambuctious introduction
Returning to varsity soccer for the primary time since 1999, Rob Ryan shared tales, flexed his impression expertise and strut across the podium Wednesday like a WWE wrestler.
The previous NFL coordinator with greater than 35 years of teaching expertise mentioned Trojans’ defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn is the explanation he’s in College Park — taking a break from a prompted debate over Troy Polomalu’s locks compared to his lengthy, silver hair.
“D’Anton did the same thing at UCLA,” mentioned Ryan, who coached with Lynn within the NFL with Buffalo and Baltimore. “Now he came here, the program was a little bit down, clearly on the upside. Watch where we finish this year. Watch where we finish this year. This guy is special. He’s special.”
Ryan mentioned throughout the linebackers corps, he’s trying ahead to teaching freshman Desman Stephens II and senior Eric Gentry. The 62-year-old coach, who most just lately served as a defensive assistant for the Las Vegas Raiders, mentioned Stephens “plays violently,” whereas Gentry has “vines for arms,” utilizing his size to make performs on the sphere.
Up-and-coming coaches
Riley might have appeared old style by hiring Ryan forward of the 2025 season, however he additionally chosen two youthful coaches to hitch the employees.
Thirty-four-year-old Trovon Reed and 30-year-old Chad Savage will function USC’s cornerbacks coach, and tight ends and inside receivers coach, respectively. Savage — from Colorado State — and Reed — from Central Florida — enthusiastically touted their dedication as coaches and recruiters.
“It’s a cliche saying, everyone says it, but double down on relationships,” Savage mentioned. “Do your due diligence, but you got to give people the time of day. Because it doesn’t matter if it’s a small inner-city school, doesn’t matter if it’s a Trinity [League] School, you got to give people the time of day.”
Reed mentioned participant growth is one among his key teaching traits following a one-year stint at Central Florida.
“I’m gonna break you down,” mentioned Reed, who performed within the NFL below Pete Carroll. “I’m gonna break you down all the way. I’m gonna find everything you’re not good at, and we’re gonna become good. And the things you’re good at, we’re gonna continue to be great.”
Savage mentioned he hopes his power is contagious in follow and it rubs off on his gamers.
“When they make a play, don’t be surprised if you see a coach on the field,” Reed mentioned. I’m gonna discuss to teach [Riley]. I would get a flag or two, it’ll be price it although.”
