Eric Henderson hiring wraps up Trojan Defensive Staff
“I’m excited to welcome the final member of our defensive staff, Eric Henderson,” said Riley. “A Super Bowl Champion coach who has been recognized nationally for being the top in his field, Eric will bring immeasurable knowledge and experience to our program. We have put together a defensive staff that is second to none. We’re ready to get to work.”
Earl Heath
Contributing Sports Writer
Eric Henderson, a Super Bowl Champion and award-winning coach, has been named USC’s co-defensive coordinator/run game coordinator/defensive line coach, head coach Lincoln Riley announced recently.
“I’m excited to welcome the final member of our defensive staff, Eric Henderson,” said Riley. “A Super Bowl Champion coach who has been recognized nationally for being the top in his field, Eric will bring immeasurable knowledge and experience to our program. We have put together a defensive staff that is second to none. We’re ready to get to work.”
Henderson most recently served as the defensive line coach/run game coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
In the 2023 season, the Rams finished the season ranked No. 8 in run defense with a 70.2 grade per PFF. The Rams finished the regular season with 41.0 sacks with 4 players recording 6.0+ sacks. This was the first time since 1985 that the Rams have had 4 players with 6.0+ sacks on the season. DT Aaron Donald was named a Pro Bowler and earned First Team All-Pro. This marks his 10th Pro Bowl appearance and eighth First Team All-Pro recognition. In 2023, Donald tallied 56 tackles, including 8 sacks, and 3 PBUs. Henderson tutored DT Kobie Turner, who was arguably the best rookie pass rusher in the NFL this past season and also is a strong candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He led the Rams with 9 sacks. Turner recorded 58 tackles, including 9.5 sacks on the season. That sack total tied Donald’s mark for the franchise’s rookie record. Turner won NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for January. He recorded 5 sacks, 15 tackles and 4 TFLsin the final 6 games of the year, helping elevate the performance of the entire defense.
In 2022, the Rams rush defense ranked among the best in the NFL. Henderson’s defensive line helped the Rams finish third in fewest missed tackles on rush plays (51), eighth in percentage of opponent rushes that resulted in first downs (23.3%), ninth in defensive total rush EPA (42.97), ninth in opponent rushes for touchdowns (37.92), tied for 10th in total rushing touchdowns allowed (12) and finished 12th in total rushing first downs allowed (106).
Henderson made his coaching debut in 2012 as a defensive assistant at Georgia Military College, where he coached the linebackers and secondary. The Bulldogs finished with a 7-4 record and made an appearance in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.
The coaching staff has been dramatically remade by Riley. This past week Henderson with Shaun Nua being reslotted to coaching defensive ends and edge
rushers. Nua, who served as an interim co-defensive coordinator following Grinch’s dismissal, was the lone defensive coach retained by .
In December, Riley hired D’Anton Lynn. In 2023, Lynn was UCLA’s defensive coordinator who turned the Bruins’ defense into the best in the Pac-12 and 10th rated nationally also helped develop senior defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, who had 49 total tackles and 13 sacks in 2023, into one of the best edge rushers in the country. Prior to his one-year stint at UCLA, Lynn worked in the NFL for nine years after getting his start coaching as an intern for the New York Jets in 2014.
Also brought on former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz as the linebackers coach; Entz was also named the assistant head coach for defense. During his time in charge of the Bison, Entz went 60-11.
Doug Belk, the former associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the University of Houston, will serve as the Trojans’ secondary coach. During his five years with the Cougars, Belk coached 13 All-American Athletic Conference players from 2019 to 2022.
