Football
- Title:
- Offensive Line
- Email:
- football@usc.edu
- Phone:
- (213) 740-4204
Clay McGuire was named USC’s offensive line coach in January of 2020.
The 39-year-old McGuire has 14 years of coaching experience, including in Air Raid-style offenses at Texas Tech and Washington State.
He comes to USC after coaching the offensive line at Texas State in 2019 and 2020. Bobcats left tackle Dalton Cooper was a 2020 Freshman All-American second teamer.
McGuire was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Texas Tech, his alma mater, in 2018, working under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Red Raiders ranked in the national Top 16 in both total offense (485.2) and points (37.3).
He spent the previous 6 years (2012-17) as the offensive line coach at Washington State, working for head coach Mike Leach (current USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell was on the Cougar staff for 2 of those years). Among the linemen he tutored were two-time (2016-17) All-American first teamer Cody O’Connell, an Outland Trophy finalist in 2016, 2015 All-Pac-12 first team pick Joe Dahl, now with the Detroit Lions, and current NFLers Andre Dillard (Philadelphia Eagles first rounder) and Cole Madison (Green Bay Packers). The Cougars finished among the nation’s top 10 teams in passing offense throughout McGuire’s tenure and played in 4 bowl games (2013 New Mexico, 2015 Sun, 2016 and 2017 Holiday).
McGuire was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at East Carolina in 2010 and 2011, working alongside offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. The Pirates were in the 2010 Liberty Bowl.
He began his coaching career at Texas Tech under Leach and alongside Riley. After a year (2006) as a video intern there, he became an offensive graduate assistant in 2007, special teams coordinator in 2008 and running backs coach in 2009. Texas Tech appeared in a bowl each season (2006 Insight, 2008 Gator, 2009 Cotton, 2010 Alamo). The 2008 squad, with Harrell at quarterback, went 11-2 with a No. 12 final ranking.
McGuire lettered 4 years (2001-04) as an H-back for Texas Tech, catching 32 passes for 320 yards with 2 touchdowns in his career. The Red Raiders played in the 2001 Alamo, 2002 Tangerine, 2003 Houston and 2004 Holiday Bowls.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 2004 and a master’s degree in secondary education in 2007, both from Texas Tech.
He starred at quarterback and defensive end at Crane (Tex.) High.
He was born on Feb. 5, 1982. He and his wife, Jeri, have 2 daughters, Jorja and Addison. His brother, Cody, played football at Texas Tech.
McGUIRE SNAPSHOT
BIRTHDAY: Feb. 5, 1982
FAMILY: Wife, Jeri; Daughters, Jorja and Addison
HIGH SCHOOL: Crane (Tex.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree, history, Texas Tech, 2004
Master’s degree, secondary education, Texas Tech, 2004
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Crane (Tex.) HS
Texas Tech, H-back, 2001-04
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 14 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2006 | Texas Tech | Video Intern | Insight |
| 2007 | Texas Tech | Offensive Graduate Assistant | Gator |
| 2008 | Texas Tech | Special Teams Coordinator | Cotton |
| 2009 | Texas Tech | Running Backs | Alamo |
| 2010 | East Carolina | Running Backs/Special Teams Coord. | Liberty |
| 2011 | East Carolina | Running Backs/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2012 | Washington State | Offensive Line | -- |
| 2013 | Washington State | Offensive Line | New Mexico |
| 2014 | Washington State | Offensive Line | -- |
| 2015 | Washington State | Offensive Line | Sun |
| 2016 | Washington State | Offensive Line | Holiday |
| 2017 | Washington State | Offensive Line | Holiday |
| 2018 | Texas Tech | Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs | -- |
| 2019 | Texas State | Offensive Line | -- |
| 2020 | Texas State | Offensive Line | -- |
