Football
Pendergast, Clancy
Clancy Pendergast
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
- Email:
- clancy.pendergast@usc.edu
- Phone:
- 740-8790
Clancy Pendergast, who has coordinated some of the top defenses in the NFL and in college since the mid-2000s and is known for his aggressive defenses that use creative schemes to create pressure, begins his fourth season back at USC as the defensive coordinator. He returned to USC in January of 2016 after spending a season with the San Francisco 49ers. In 2019, he also is the assistant head coach.
This is the third stint at USC for Pendergast, who most recently was at Troy in 2013 and molded the Trojan defense into one of the nation’s best that season. He has 27 years of coaching experience, including 16 in the NFL.
In 2018, USC held 6 of its 12 opponents to 21 points or less. Defensive lineman Jay Tufele was a Freshman All-American first teamer. Inside linebacker Cameron Smith was the first Trojan in nearly 40 years to lead the team in tackles in 3 consecutive years. Iman Marshall was USC’s first four-year starting cornerback in 20 years. Smith (fifth round), Marshall (fourth round) and safety Marvell Tell III (fifth round) were 2019 NFL draft picks.
In 2017, USC led the nation in sacks (46), had 24 takeaways and was fourth nationally in red zone defense. Four Trojan defenders—linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Cameron Smith, lineman Rasheem Green and safety Marvell Tell III—made All-Pac-12 first team, Nwosu was an All-American first teamer and Nwosu and Green were 2018 NFL draftees. USC played in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
In 2016, USC held 6 opponents to their season low in points and allowed foes just 50 points in the first quarter (and only 121 in the first half). Opponents averaged just 367.2 yards of total offense and the Trojans had 14 interceptions. USC played in the Rose Bowl.
Pendergast, 51, was the 49ers’ linebackers coach in 2015. He tutored Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman, the NFL’s 2015 tackle leader.
Pendergast was USC’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2013. That year, he helped the Trojan defense rank in the national Top 25 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks, interceptions, red zone scoring defense, third down conversion defense and fourth down conversion defense. Safety Su’a Cravens was a Freshman All-American first team pick.
He spent the previous 3 years (2010-12) as the defensive coordinator at California. The Golden Bears led the conference in total defense, pass defense and fewest first downs allowed in each of his first 2 seasons while producing 9 NFL players, including first rounder Cameron Jordan, and 3 All-Conference first teamers, including 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Mychal Kendricks.
In 2010, Cal topped the Pac-10 in sacks and was in the league’s top 5 in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and opponent third down conversions while holding 4 opponents to 10 or less points (the most by a Golden Bear defense since 1968) and 3 foes to under 200 total yards.
In 2011, Cal was in the Pac-12’s top 3 in rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and tackles for loss while notching 23 turnovers and 34 sacks and holding 5 teams under 70 rushing yards. The Golden Bears played in the Holiday Bowl.
His young 2012 Cal defense, with only 5 returning starters, held the wide-open offenses of UCLA and Washington State to just 17 points each.
Pendergast went to Cal after 6 seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals (2004-08), including when the Cardinals won the 2008 NFC title to earn a berth in Super Bowl XLIII, and Kansas City Chiefs (2009). His squads had 176 takeaways during those 6 years.
In his 5 seasons with Arizona, his defense finished 20th or better in the final NFL rankings 37 times in categories such as points allowed, total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed, yards allowed per play, opponents third down percentage, sacks, interceptions and fumbles recovered.
Cardinal linemen Bertrand Berry and Darnell Dockett were Pro Bowlers in his defense. He also worked with Arizona’s secondary, coaching safety Adrian Wilson to a pair of Pro Bowls.
In 2004, Arizona was 12th in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense, as well as in the top 5 in third down defense and fumble recoveries, and it forced 30 turnovers. Linebacker Karlos Dansby was an All-Rookie honoree.
His 2005 unit was in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense, third down efficiency, first downs allowed and fumble recoveries, while his 2006 defense forced 33 turnovers, the most by the Cardinals since 1998 and tied for fifth in the NFL that year.
In 2007, Arizona was ninth in the NFL in run defense and set a modern-day NFL record by holding the Detroit Lions to minus 18 rushing yards. Its 6 scoring interception returns and 551 interception return yards that season were franchise records as the Cardinals tied for 10th in the NFL in interceptions.
In 2008, Arizona tied for fifth in the league with 30 takeaways, including forcing 13 turnovers during its playoff run.
In 2009 with Kansas City, a young Chiefs defense had 28 takeaways and 22 sacks. The unit improved significantly in sacks, rushing touchdowns allowed and third down conversions from the previous year.
Pendergast began his NFL coaching career in 1995 as a defensive assistant/quality control coach with the Houston Oilers.
He then spent 7 seasons (1996-2002) with the Dallas Cowboys as part of staffs that won 2 NFC East titles (1996 and 1998) and made 3 NFC playoff appearances (1996, 1998-99). He was a defensive assistant and quality control coach his first 4 seasons (1996-99), then oversaw Dallas’ nickel defense packages in 2000 before coaching the defensive backs in his final 2 campaigns (2001-02). The Cowboys were third in the NFL in pass defense in 2000 and 2001. He tutored safety Roy Williams, who was an All-Rookie selection in 2002, as well as All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson.
He then was the linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2003.
Pendergast started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 1991 before becoming a USC defensive assistant in 1992 under head coach Larry Smith. He then was a graduate assistant/tight ends at Oklahoma for 2 seasons (1993-94). Each of those college teams played in a bowl, as Mississippi State qualified for the Liberty Bowl, USC for the Freedom Bowl and Oklahoma for the John Hancock and Copper Bowls.
He prepped at Tolleson (Ariz.) High, then received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Arizona in 1990.
Born on Nov. 29, 1967, he is single.
HIGH SCHOOL: Tolleson (Ariz.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor[apos]s degree, agriculture, Arizona, 1990
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Tolleson (Ariz.) HS
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 27 years
NFL STARS: Darren Woodson, Roy Williams, Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby, Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, NaVorro Bowman
This is the third stint at USC for Pendergast, who most recently was at Troy in 2013 and molded the Trojan defense into one of the nation’s best that season. He has 27 years of coaching experience, including 16 in the NFL.
In 2018, USC held 6 of its 12 opponents to 21 points or less. Defensive lineman Jay Tufele was a Freshman All-American first teamer. Inside linebacker Cameron Smith was the first Trojan in nearly 40 years to lead the team in tackles in 3 consecutive years. Iman Marshall was USC’s first four-year starting cornerback in 20 years. Smith (fifth round), Marshall (fourth round) and safety Marvell Tell III (fifth round) were 2019 NFL draft picks.
In 2017, USC led the nation in sacks (46), had 24 takeaways and was fourth nationally in red zone defense. Four Trojan defenders—linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Cameron Smith, lineman Rasheem Green and safety Marvell Tell III—made All-Pac-12 first team, Nwosu was an All-American first teamer and Nwosu and Green were 2018 NFL draftees. USC played in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
In 2016, USC held 6 opponents to their season low in points and allowed foes just 50 points in the first quarter (and only 121 in the first half). Opponents averaged just 367.2 yards of total offense and the Trojans had 14 interceptions. USC played in the Rose Bowl.
Pendergast, 51, was the 49ers’ linebackers coach in 2015. He tutored Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman, the NFL’s 2015 tackle leader.
Pendergast was USC’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2013. That year, he helped the Trojan defense rank in the national Top 25 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks, interceptions, red zone scoring defense, third down conversion defense and fourth down conversion defense. Safety Su’a Cravens was a Freshman All-American first team pick.
He spent the previous 3 years (2010-12) as the defensive coordinator at California. The Golden Bears led the conference in total defense, pass defense and fewest first downs allowed in each of his first 2 seasons while producing 9 NFL players, including first rounder Cameron Jordan, and 3 All-Conference first teamers, including 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Mychal Kendricks.
In 2010, Cal topped the Pac-10 in sacks and was in the league’s top 5 in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and opponent third down conversions while holding 4 opponents to 10 or less points (the most by a Golden Bear defense since 1968) and 3 foes to under 200 total yards.
In 2011, Cal was in the Pac-12’s top 3 in rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and tackles for loss while notching 23 turnovers and 34 sacks and holding 5 teams under 70 rushing yards. The Golden Bears played in the Holiday Bowl.
His young 2012 Cal defense, with only 5 returning starters, held the wide-open offenses of UCLA and Washington State to just 17 points each.
Pendergast went to Cal after 6 seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals (2004-08), including when the Cardinals won the 2008 NFC title to earn a berth in Super Bowl XLIII, and Kansas City Chiefs (2009). His squads had 176 takeaways during those 6 years.
In his 5 seasons with Arizona, his defense finished 20th or better in the final NFL rankings 37 times in categories such as points allowed, total yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed, yards allowed per play, opponents third down percentage, sacks, interceptions and fumbles recovered.
Cardinal linemen Bertrand Berry and Darnell Dockett were Pro Bowlers in his defense. He also worked with Arizona’s secondary, coaching safety Adrian Wilson to a pair of Pro Bowls.
In 2004, Arizona was 12th in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense, as well as in the top 5 in third down defense and fumble recoveries, and it forced 30 turnovers. Linebacker Karlos Dansby was an All-Rookie honoree.
His 2005 unit was in the NFL’s top 10 in total defense, third down efficiency, first downs allowed and fumble recoveries, while his 2006 defense forced 33 turnovers, the most by the Cardinals since 1998 and tied for fifth in the NFL that year.
In 2007, Arizona was ninth in the NFL in run defense and set a modern-day NFL record by holding the Detroit Lions to minus 18 rushing yards. Its 6 scoring interception returns and 551 interception return yards that season were franchise records as the Cardinals tied for 10th in the NFL in interceptions.
In 2008, Arizona tied for fifth in the league with 30 takeaways, including forcing 13 turnovers during its playoff run.
In 2009 with Kansas City, a young Chiefs defense had 28 takeaways and 22 sacks. The unit improved significantly in sacks, rushing touchdowns allowed and third down conversions from the previous year.
Pendergast began his NFL coaching career in 1995 as a defensive assistant/quality control coach with the Houston Oilers.
He then spent 7 seasons (1996-2002) with the Dallas Cowboys as part of staffs that won 2 NFC East titles (1996 and 1998) and made 3 NFC playoff appearances (1996, 1998-99). He was a defensive assistant and quality control coach his first 4 seasons (1996-99), then oversaw Dallas’ nickel defense packages in 2000 before coaching the defensive backs in his final 2 campaigns (2001-02). The Cowboys were third in the NFL in pass defense in 2000 and 2001. He tutored safety Roy Williams, who was an All-Rookie selection in 2002, as well as All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson.
He then was the linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2003.
Pendergast started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 1991 before becoming a USC defensive assistant in 1992 under head coach Larry Smith. He then was a graduate assistant/tight ends at Oklahoma for 2 seasons (1993-94). Each of those college teams played in a bowl, as Mississippi State qualified for the Liberty Bowl, USC for the Freedom Bowl and Oklahoma for the John Hancock and Copper Bowls.
He prepped at Tolleson (Ariz.) High, then received his bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Arizona in 1990.
Born on Nov. 29, 1967, he is single.
PENDERGAST SNAPSHOT
FAMILY: SingleHIGH SCHOOL: Tolleson (Ariz.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor[apos]s degree, agriculture, Arizona, 1990
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Tolleson (Ariz.) HS
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 27 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 1991 | Mississippi State | Graduate Assistant | Liberty |
| 1992 | USC | Defensive Assistant | Freedom |
| 1993 | Oklahoma | Graduate Assistant/Tight Ends | John Hancock |
| 1994 | Oklahoma | Graduate Assistant/Tight Ends | Copper |
| 1995 | Houston Oilers | Defensive Assistant/Quality Control -- | |
| 1996 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Assistant/Quality Control NFC playoffs | |
| 1997 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Assistant/Quality Control -- | |
| 1998 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Assistant/Quality Control NFC playoffs | |
| 1999 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Assistant/Quality Control NFC playoffs | |
| 2000 | Dallas Cowboys | Nickel Defense | -- |
| 2001 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Backs | -- |
| 2002 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive Backs | -- |
| 2003 | Cleveland Browns | Linebackers | -- |
| 2004 | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2005 | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2006 | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2007 | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2008 | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive Coordinator | Super Bowl |
| 2009 | Kansas City Chiefs | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2010 | California | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2011 | California | Defensive Coordinator | Holiday |
| 2012 | California | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2013 | USC | Defensive Coordinator/Secondary | Las Vegas |
| 2015 | San Francisco 49ers | Linebackers | -- |
| 2016 | USC | Defensive Coordinator | Rose |
| 2017 | USC | Defensive Coordinator | Cotton |
NFL STARS: Darren Woodson, Roy Williams, Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby, Bertrand Berry, Darnell Dockett, NaVorro Bowman
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