LOS ANGELES — It was one final set-up in a legendary connection, Leinart to Williams, a verbal toss just as important as any of the 31 touchdowns they shared back during USC’s most recent glory days.
On Friday, USC head coach Lincoln Riley hopped on a FaceTime with Williams, the all-time great Trojans wide receiver who had since settled into life 20 years later as a high school football coach in Tampa, Florida. Waiting on the same call was Leinart, Williams’ former quarterback, the combination that had once lit fires across the college football landscape.
“He’s got one more ball here for ya,” Riley told a beaming Williams. “He’s got one more opportunity for ya here, man.”
And as Leinart welcomed Williams back to USC, the program made it official on social media on Friday: former All-American Williams had been hired by his alma mater, named USC’s Director of Player Development. He’ll replace Chris Carter, who held the role for two years at USC before moving to UCLA in an assistant general manager role.
“Something like this, is obviously, it’s huge for you, it’s huge for us,” Riley told Williams. “This is for all the former players, man.”
Indeed, it’s monumental beyond Williams: Taylor Mays, the former USC hard-hitting safety, has been the only Trojans football alumni on Riley’s staff since he was hired in 2022. Williams’ hire, and the announcement in which it was made, served as a harkening back to the Pete Carroll days, when former players were frequent practice attendees.
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After an All-American career at USC – 2,579 yards across two seasons and a national championship in 2003 –Williams’ NFL career never quite panned out after being drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 10th pick in 2005. After years coaching high school football in Los Angeles, Williams moved to Florida, where he’s since coached at Wharton High and T.R. Robinson High in Tampa.
“Welcome back home, dude,” Riley told Williams, the joy visible via Williams’ pearly-white smile. “Welcome back home.”
