University Southern California Trojans
Trojan Wide Receivers Coach Resigns
December 14, 1999 | Football
Dec. 14, 1999
LOS ANGELES - Mike Wilson, USC's wide receivers coach the past 3 seasons, has resigned to pursue an opportunity in private business, Trojan head coach Paul Hackett announced today.
"Mike was presented with a business opportunity that doesn't come around often," said Hackett. "We're sorry to see him go. I told him that the door here always will be open and he always will have a job with me at USC. He made a huge contribution to our football program. He did a great job coaching our receivers and was an outstanding recruiter."
Since arriving at USC in 1997, the 40-year-old Wilson coached 5 receivers who rank in the school's career Top 25 pass catching chart--No. 4 R. Jay Soward, No. 5 Billy Miller (now with the Denver Broncos), No. 18 Windrell Hayes, No. 20 Larry Parker (now with the Kansas City Chiefs) and No. 24 Mike Bastianelli--plus a trio of promising youngsters in 1999 Pac- 10 Freshman of the Year Kareem Kelly, who set USC freshman season records for receptions and receiving yards, Marcell Allmond and Steve Stevenson.
Before coming to USC, Wilson spent 2 seasons (1995-96) as the wide receivers coach of the Oakland Raiders (he coached All-Pro Tim Brown). Before that, he was Stanford's wide receivers and tight ends coach for 3 years (1992-94) and tutored 8 players who ended up in the NFL, including All-Pac-10 first teamer Justin Armour. He also recruited Troy Walters, who was the 1999 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.
Wilson spent his entire 10-year (1981-90) NFL playing career as a wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was on 4 Super Bowl winners (1981-84-88-89) and is 1 of only 3 wide receivers in NFL history who have 4 Super Bowl rings (the others are ex-Trojan Lynn Swann and John Stallworth of the Pittsburgh Steelers). In his 49ers career, Wilson caught 182 passes for 2,470 yards (13.6 avg.) and 17 touchdowns.
Wilson was a 3-year (1978-80) letterman at Washington State after being a prep All-American in football and basketball at Carson (Calif.) High.
