University Southern California Trojans
USC Names Linebackers Coach
February 03, 2000 | Football
Feb. 3, 2000
LOS ANGELES - A.J. Christoff--whose 27 years of defensive coaching experience included stops at Colorado, Alabama, Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford, Oregon and Georgia Tech--has been named linebackers coach at USC, Trojan head coach Paul Hackett announced today.
"I'm thrilled to welcome A.J. Christoff to the Trojan Family," said Hackett. "Hiring someone with his experience in the Pac-10 and nationally, as well as someone with his history on defense and with linebackers, will be a tremendous boost to the USC football program."
Most recently, the 51-year-old Christoff was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Colorado for 4 seasons (1995-98). The Buffaloes won 3 bowls games (1996 Cotton Bowl, 1996 Holiday Bowl and 1998 Aloha Bowl) during his time there and he was involved in coaching 1996 Butkus Award winner Matt Russell.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oregon State in 1972, then became a full-time assistant at New Mexico for 2 years (1973-74), where he handled the secondary and was the recruiting coordinator. He then returned to his alma mater, Idaho, as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach for 2 seasons (1975-76).
He then moved on to Oregon for 6 years (1977-82), where he coached the inside linebackers the first 2 seasons and was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach the last 4 years.
He was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Stanford in 1983 and at Notre Dame in 1984 and 1985. The 1984 Irish squad played in the Aloha Bowl.
He next was Georgia Tech's secondary coach in 1986, then moved with Yellow Jackets head coach Bill Curry to Alabama in the same capacity for the following 3 seasons (1987-89). The Crimson Tide appeared in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, the 1988 Sun Bowl and the 1990 Sugar Bowl.
He served as the secondary coach at UCLA for 5 seasons (1990-94) before joining Colorado's staff. At UCLA, he coached All-American defensive backs Marvin Goodwin, Carlton Gray, Matt Darby and Eric Turner. The Bruins were in the 1991 John Hancock Bowl and the 1994 Rose Bowl.
Christoff played linebacker and defensive end at Idaho, receiving his bachelor's degree in biological sciences from there in 1971. He then earned a master's degree in environmental health from Oregon State in 1972.
He prepped at Ritzville (Wash.) High, where he starred in football and basketball. He was also a national-caliber swimmer, once holding the Junior Olympic record in the 200-yard freestyle.
He was born on Nov. 18, 1948. He and his wife, Susan, have 2 grown children, Andrea, a doctor, and Rob, an assistant football coach at Montana State. Christoff is an avid runner who has run numerous marathons, with a best of 3:30. A.J. is short for Andrew James.
