Reggie Bush has plans to coach at USC someday, adding to the university’s legacy as one of its most esteemed alumni.
The College Football National Championship run comes to an end with the start of the new year, and teams are already preparing for the 2025 season. For good reason: for the past few years, there have been more eyes on college football during the off-season than ever before. Various factors (such as NIL deals, eligibility extensions, and the transfer portal) have increased player agency tenfold. These aspects of the game can be divisive, so perhaps there is ample opportunity for guiding hands more sympathetic to the player’s perspective. With the likes of Deion Sanders and Eddie George now testing their mettle with a headset and clipboard, it’s certainly an idea with merit.
Just earlier this week, Reggie Bush mentioned his desire to coach at USC at some point. Bush had previously sought the head coach position available at Sacramento State, which operates in the FCS division. While that opportunity slipped past him, it does show that Bush is eager to earn some experience before he knocks on the door of his Alma Mater. As part of an NCAA investigation years ago, Bush was found to have accepted cash and other gifts from sports agents while attending USC. This investigation led to numerous sanctions against the university and forced the university to disassociate from Bush for nearly a decade.
These events also saw Reggie Bush voluntarily give back the Heisman trophy he earned in 2005, which was later returned to him after the NIL practices began. The new scope of the college landscape caused some to reflect on their views of Bush’s actions from back then, and many came away seeing them in a better light – including the Heisman Trust. The NCAA has not been so lenient, and Bush has pursued legal battles for issues regarding defamation. Over the years, Bush has steadfastly been involved in football despite these troubles. These experiences may prove valuable for a career in coaching later down the line.
Reggie Bush won a Super Bowl as part of the New Orleans Saints in 2009 and has been a college football analyst for a while now. However, it’s fair to say that his time at USC is what he’s best known for. Bush was quickly one of the most impressive players on the field during USC’s back-to-back runs for the Championship title, winning his Heisman trophy in the second as a junior. Bush was near-unanimously voted as the number one Heisman candidate that year, which led him to get drafted by the Saints second overall. USC welcomed Bush with open arms once his dissociation ban was lifted and honored him by retiring his jersey number (again) back in September.
Reggie Bush has cited Kirby Smart as an inspiration, considering Smart attended Georgia as an athlete and eventually returned to it as its head coach. As one of college football’s most historically successful programs, USC’s struggles this year were noticeable. With the implosion of the Pac-12, the Trojans joined the Big Ten for the 2024 season. The team started hot, ranked as high as No. 11 in the nation. However, they burned out soon enough – finish the season with a 7-6 record and 9th overall in their new conference. While it’s probably a long way away, the possibility of one of USC’s most revered athletes leading the university to a new day would be one for the books.
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