The USC Trojans made a splash on Wednesday with the introduction of their new assistant coach, Rob Ryan, and it was an event to remember. Ryan, known for his bold personality and unfiltered style, didn't disappoint during his press conference, quickly going viral for his animated remarks.
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One of the more memorable moments came when Ryan shared an extended story about his time coaching former USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava, who is the uncle of current Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava. According to Ryan, he initially didn't like Maiava, but after a chance encounter with him while vacationing in Hawaii, the linebacker helped Ryan secure a rental car. Ryan's telling of the story, complete with colorful commentary, had everyone in the room laughing.
USC should’ve hired Rob Ryan as head coach, tbh. This is incredible 😂 pic.twitter.com/PsmM18M314
— Jack Crosby (@Jack_Crosby14) February 5, 2025
He also had high praise for his fellow coaches, referring to USC co-defensive coordinator Eric Henderson as the new "Pete Carroll" and comparing defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn to a young Mike Tomlin. His remarks only added to the sense that Ryan's presence on the staff will be larger than life, and the response from players is expected to be equally enthusiastic.
The buzz around his introduction has been intense, with some even humorously suggesting that he should have been hired as head coach to replace Lincoln Riley. Ryan's larger-than-life persona is certainly part of the package, and it's clear that his addition will shake things up on the USC staff—whether it translates to success or not.
For Lincoln Riley, the stakes are high in 2025 after failing to meet expectations in his first three seasons. If his goal was to inject new energy into the program, bringing in Rob Ryan was a step in the right direction.
