The USC Trojans have bolstered their coaching staff with another key addition, signaling continued investment in special teams under head coach Lincoln Riley as the program prepares for the 2026 Big Ten season.
While much of the recent attention focused on the promotion of Skyler Jones to defensive tackles coach—joining Shawn Nua in leading the defensive line—the Trojans quietly added depth to their special teams unit by hiring Noah Knoell as a special teams assistant.
Knoell joins the staff after serving as a graduate assistant and analyst at Nebraska last season, where he worked closely with special teams.
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Notably, Knoell is following Mike Ekeler to USC. Ekeler, widely regarded as one of the top special teams coordinators in college football, made the move from Nebraska to become USC’s special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.
USC Trojans Hire Special Teams Assistant
During his time at Nebraska, Ekeler helped transform the Cornhuskers’ special teams into one of the strongest units in the Big Ten and nationally—an impressive turnaround that USC fans and coaches clearly hope to replicate in Los Angeles.
In a recent video update from USC LAFB, host Ryan Dyrud highlighted the significance of this hire. “They’re hiring like they believe that,” Dyrud said, referring to the program’s renewed emphasis on special teams. “And they’re hiring because we brought in arguably the best special teams coordinator in football in Mike Ekeler.”
Knoell, still a young coach, brings recent playing experience to the role. A former strong safety and outside linebacker, he graduated from high school around 2020 and was still active on the field just a few years ago before transitioning into coaching and analysis at Nebraska. His background in both playing and analyzing special teams positions him well to support Ekeler’s vision.
Special teams have long been a point of discussion among USC fans, especially after several close losses in recent seasons, where hidden-yardage plays, field position battles, and return games could have swung the outcomes. Dyrud pointed to concrete examples of special teams’ game-changing potential: the decisive role they played in Indiana’s path to a national championship and even the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, where critical special teams moments proved pivotal.
With Knoell’s arrival, the Trojans now have additional personnel dedicated to the third phase of the game. The addition of Knoell strengthens the depth chart and allows for more specialized focus—an important step as USC looks to flip the script on tight Big Ten matchups, such as previous near-misses against Notre Dame and Oregon.
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This hire is part of a broader offseason of momentum for the USC Trojans. Lincoln Riley and his staff appear committed to addressing every phase of the game, recognizing that elite special teams can be the difference in turning competitive losses into signature wins.
As USC continues building toward the 2025 campaign, additions like Noah Knoell demonstrate a deliberate strategy: surround proven coordinators with talented, hungry assistants who share the same philosophy. If Ekeler’s track record at Nebraska is any indication, the Trojans’ special teams could become a genuine strength rather than a question mark.
Fight On.