USC football: Lane Kiffin officially announces hiring of two coaches

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USC Coach Lane Kiffin made it official, announcing the hiring of Scottie Hazelton as linebackers coach and Marvin Sanders as defensive backs coach.

The announcement was a formality since both coaches agreed to terms last week.

Hazelton, 38, was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at North Dakota State. Sanders, 44, coached defensive backs at Nebraska and had recently been named defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic.

“We are delighted to add Marvin and Scottie to the Trojan Family,’ Kiffin said in a statement. ‘Both not only have made their marks while coaching their respective positions, but both have been collegiate defensive coordinators, and that should help us tremendously.

‘Marvin had great success coaching the defensive backs at Nebraska, and we believe that will translate well to our secondary, which is the most critical area we need to improve upon in 2012. Scottie is coming to us after helping North Dakota State win the NCAA FCS championship and coordinating a defense that led the nation in scoring defense in 2011, after it was 90th in that category before he took it over just two years ago.’

USC is expected to officially announce the hiring of Tee Martin as receivers coach in a few days. Martin was interviewed at USC on Monday and agreed to join the staff on Wednesday.

Kiffin’s staff is now complete for spring practice, which begins March 6.

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-- Gary Klein