Dave Levy, Former USC Assistant Football Coach, Dies
November 15, 2023 | Football
LOS ANGELES--Dave Levy, who helped USC win four national football championships as an assistant coach and also coached in the NFL, CFL, NFL Europe, XFL and high school, died on Wednesday (Nov. 15) in Beverly Hills, Calif. of natural causes. He was 91.
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Levy served on head coach John McKay's staff for 16 seasons (1960-75), helping the Trojans win national titles in 1962-67-72-74. He was regarded as one of the brightest and most innovative assistant coaches in USC football history, as well as one of its most quick-witted. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
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After McKay left for the NFL, Levy was a Trojan assistant athletic director for the next four years (1976-79). Â
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He then joined the San Diego Chargers for nine seasons (1980-88), where he coached the offensive line, tight ends and was the offensive coordinator under head coaches Don Coryell and Al Saunders (the Chargers made 3 post-season appearances during Levy's stint, including twice advancing to the AFC Championship Game), and Detroit Lions for eight seasons (1989-96) under head coach Wayne Fontes, handling the running backs and serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach as the Lions made four post-season appearances, including once in the NFC Championship Game.Â
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He then was an assistant coach with the NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals in 1999 and 2000, XFL's Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001 and CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2003, as well as at Estancia High in Costa Mesa (Calif.) and Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City (Calif.). Â
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Before he came to USC, Levy won a pair of CIF football championships as the head coach at Long Beach Poly High during his four-year (1956-59) tenure. Â
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He was on the football and track teams at Long Beach City College (he was inducted into the school's Hall of Champions in 2006) and played football and baseball at UCLA.
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He is survived by his wife, Barrie, two sons, John Levy and Robert Bray, two stepdaughters, Laurie Levin and Ariel Levin and her wife Karen Cearley, and his 101-year-old aunt, Clara Lowry.
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Levy served on head coach John McKay's staff for 16 seasons (1960-75), helping the Trojans win national titles in 1962-67-72-74. He was regarded as one of the brightest and most innovative assistant coaches in USC football history, as well as one of its most quick-witted. He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015.
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After McKay left for the NFL, Levy was a Trojan assistant athletic director for the next four years (1976-79). Â
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He then joined the San Diego Chargers for nine seasons (1980-88), where he coached the offensive line, tight ends and was the offensive coordinator under head coaches Don Coryell and Al Saunders (the Chargers made 3 post-season appearances during Levy's stint, including twice advancing to the AFC Championship Game), and Detroit Lions for eight seasons (1989-96) under head coach Wayne Fontes, handling the running backs and serving as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach as the Lions made four post-season appearances, including once in the NFC Championship Game.Â
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He then was an assistant coach with the NFL Europe's Amsterdam Admirals in 1999 and 2000, XFL's Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001 and CFL's Calgary Stampeders in 2003, as well as at Estancia High in Costa Mesa (Calif.) and Harvard-Westlake School in Studio City (Calif.). Â
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Before he came to USC, Levy won a pair of CIF football championships as the head coach at Long Beach Poly High during his four-year (1956-59) tenure. Â
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He was on the football and track teams at Long Beach City College (he was inducted into the school's Hall of Champions in 2006) and played football and baseball at UCLA.
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He is survived by his wife, Barrie, two sons, John Levy and Robert Bray, two stepdaughters, Laurie Levin and Ariel Levin and her wife Karen Cearley, and his 101-year-old aunt, Clara Lowry.
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