When Matt Entz took the job as USC’s linebackers coach final January, forsaking a head teaching job at North Dakota State, he was clear about his intentions. A pair of FCS nationwide titles and coach of the yr honors hadn’t been sufficient to garner consideration from big-time packages. He hoped the assistant job at USC could possibly be a springboard to different head-coaching alternatives.
“I’ve had some people tell me that I don’t have FBS recruiting experience and that I haven’t really dove into NIL. Those have been marks against me, if you will,” Entz mentioned. “Hopefully this will lead to some other opportunities.”
Seems one season working with a retooled Trojans protection was sufficient to make that occur. Entz is leaving USC to grow to be the pinnacle coach at Fresno State, an individual accustomed to the choice however not licensed to talk publicly informed The Occasions. The deal, in line with ESPN, is for 5 years.
His departure is a big blow to a USC linebacking corps that improved by leaps and bounds underneath Entz’s tutelage. His affect on 6-foot-6 linebacker Eric Gentry was particularly noteworthy, as Gentry was within the midst of a breakout season earlier than a sequence of concussions pressured him to redshirt.
USC defensive position coach Shaun Nua, defensive position coach Eric Henderson, linebackers coach Matt Entz, secondary coach Doug Belk and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn look on from the sideline in the course of the spring sport on April 20 in Los Angeles.
(Kevin Terrell/AP)
“That’s my guy,” Gentry mentioned within the spring, earlier than he led USC in tackles for loss in simply seven video games this season. “Coach Entz is amazing.”
“Y’all don’t even understand the man changed my whole perspective about this …” Gentry wrote. “A year ago, I truly believed football wasn’t gonna work out … that man came with the whole d staff and changed my perspective.”
Entz’s exit for Fresno State, which is able to be a part of the Pac-12 in 2026, additionally added some pressure firstly of the early signing interval, with a number of linebackers slated to affix the Trojans’ 2026 class.
4-star San Clemente linebacker Matai Tagoa’i signed with USC earlier on Wednesday morning. However two different high linebacker prospects turned elsewhere, in mild of the Trojans shedding Entz.
San Juan Capistrano linebacker Madden Faraimo, the highest-rated remaining prospect within the state of California, was anticipated to signal with USC on Wednesday, however in the end selected Notre Dame. 4-star Georgia linebacker Jadon Perlotte was additionally anticipated to spurn the Trojans regardless of his earlier dedication to Entz and USC.
Entz isn’t any stranger to main a employees. The Iowa native was 60-11 as a head coach earlier than coming to USC and had served as both a head coach or defensive coordinator for every of the earlier 12 seasons, previous to his one-year stint at USC.
