Baylor Football

USC Expected to Hire Baylor Cornerbacks Coach Paul Gonzales

Baylor cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator Paul Gonzales is expected to be hired by USC
By Levi Caraway
January 27, 2026
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Photo by Jack Mackenzie - SicEm365.com

Baylor cornerbacks coach and defensive passing game coordinator Paul Gonzales is expected to be hired by USC for its vacant defensive backs coaching position; Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports first reported the news.

USC recently hired longtime TCU head coach Gary Patterson as its defensive coordinator, paving the way for Gonzales to reunite with a familiar figure. Gonzales spent nearly a decade working under Patterson at TCU before joining Baylor last offseason.

Despite the Bears having one of the worst defenses in the Power Four in 2025, Gonzales did a commendable job with his cornerback room, as Baylor allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards per game (194.9) in the Big 12.

The Bears should have a solid core of cornerbacks next year as they return redshirt junior LeVar Thornton, a potential All-Big 12-caliber player, as well as redshirt senior Reggie Bush II, who played over 300 snaps this season. Baylor also added Oklahoma’s Devon Jordan, New Mexico State’s Stilton McKelvey and Kansas State’s Jayden Rowe from the transfer portal.

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Gary Patterson Dave Aranda Cornerbacks Paul Gonzales Joe Klanderman Reggie Bush II LeVar Thornton Football Baylor TCU USC 2026
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USC Expected to Hire Baylor Cornerbacks Coach Paul Gonzales

2,366 Views | 6 Replies | Last: 9 days ago by Youre a clown
Youre a clown
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3:25p, 1/27/26
Ouch. That's a big loss. I guess Gary secured him a decent raise
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True Grit
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In reply to Youre a clown • 3:39p, 1/27/26
Let's hope we don't lose more players to the portal to follow him.
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blackie
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In reply to True Grit • 4:24p, 1/27/26
True Grit said:
Let's hope we don't lose more players to the portal to follow him.

Isn't the portal closed now for anyone new to get into it? This is all so confusing as to who can do what, when. But then again, reading this board, I am told there aren't any anyone would want.
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PartyBear
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5:26p, 1/27/26
Yes the portal is closed and I believe starting this year that was the only portal season for the year.
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bear2be2
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In reply to Youre a clown • 7:10p, 1/27/26
Youre a clown said:
Ouch. That's a big loss. I guess Gary secured him a decent raise

Gonzales was with Patterson from 2012 until Gary was fired at TCU.

It's not surprising that we'd lose him to a longtime mentor.

He seems to be well-thought of, so I'm certainly not going to say it's a good thing we've lost him. But I have a hard time believing anyone on last year's defensive staff was irreplaceable.

Give this hire to Klanderman and let him pick who he wants in that spot to replace Gonzales.
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Youre a clown
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In reply to bear2be2 • 7:10a, 1/28/26
bear2be2 said:
Youre a clown said:
Ouch. That's a big loss. I guess Gary secured him a decent raise

Gonzales was with Patterson from 2012 until Gary was fired at TCU.

It's not surprising that we'd lose him to a longtime mentor.

He seems to be well-thought of, so I'm certainly not going to say it's a good thing we've lost him. But I have a hard time believing anyone on last year's defensive staff was irreplaceable.

Give this hire to Klanderman and let him pick who he wants in that spot to replace Gonzales.


I never said he was irreplaceable, but of all the position coaches on our defensive staff, I would argue that he had the strongest resume, hence why he just got a better job.
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