Football
- Title:
- Linebackers/Recruiting Coord./Asst. Head Coach
- Email:
- jnansen@usc.edu
- Phone:
- 740-4192
Johnny Nansen begins his sixth year at USC, in 2019 handling the inside linebackers and serving as the defensive run game coordinator. From 2016 to 2018, he was the linebackers coach. He also was the assistant head coach from 2014 to 2018 and the recruiting coordinator from 2016 to 2018. He was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator his first 2 seasons (2014-15) at USC. He arrived at Troy in December of 2013.
In 2018, inside linebacker Cameron Smith became the first Trojan in nearly 40 years to lead the team in tackles in 3 consecutive years and then he was a 2019 NFL fifth round draft pick.
In 2017, he was named Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu was an All-American first team and All-Pac-12 first team choice, as well as an NFL Draft second round selection, while Cameron Smith made All-Pac-12 first team. USC played in the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
In 2016, linebacker Cameron Smith was a Sophomore All-American and led USC in tackles. USC played in the Rose Bowl.
In 2015, tailbacks Ronald Jones II and Justin Davis each rushed for more than 900 yards, while Jones set the USC freshman season rushing record and became just the second true freshman to lead USC in season rushing. USC played in the 2015 Holiday Bowl.
In 2014, tailback Javorius Allen made All-Pac-12 first team while rushing for 1,489 yards (the most by a Trojan since 2005) and he was an NFL fourth round draft pick. USC’s special teams returned 2 punts and 2 kickoffs for touchdowns. USC played in the 2014 Holiday Bowl.
He was at Washington the previous 5 seasons (2009-13) in a variety of roles. He was the special teams coordinator all 5 years and recruiting coordinator the first 4 years. He doubled as the defensive line coach the first 3 seasons and as the running backs coach in 2013. He also was the assistant head coach the past 2 seasons.
In 2013, the Huskies were in the national Top 20 in rushing offense, as Doak Walker Award finalist and NFL second round pick Bishop Sankey was among the nation’s rushing leaders. In 2011, UW ranked No. 7 in the nation in net punting and No. 21 in punt return defense. He mentored NFL draft pick Alameda Ta’amu on the defensive line. In 2010, his special teams featured school record-setting punter Kiel Rasp. In 2009, Nansen coached UW defensive end Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, an NFL draftee who finished his career with a school-record 30 sacks. The Huskies played in the 2010 Holiday Bowl, 2011 Alamo Bowl, 2012 Las Vegas Bowl and 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl (he did not coach in the Fight Hunger Bowl).
The 45-year-old Nansen came to UW after having spent 5 seasons (2004-08) at Idaho, where he worked with the linebackers the first 3 years, defensive line the final 2 years and special teams each season.
He began his coaching career as the defensive coordinator at Cabrillo High in Long Beach (Calif.) in 1998. He then was a graduate assistant at Louisville in 1999, working with the defensive line as the Cardinals earned a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl, before spending the 2000 season at Montana State as the running backs coach and 3 years (2001-03) at Idaho State, the first 2 years as the cornerbacks coach (the Bengals won the Big Sky title in 2002) and the last as the secondary coach.
Nansen was a 3-year (1994-96) letterman linebacker at Washington State. The Cougars played in the 1994 Alamo Bowl. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration there in 1997.
He was a standout quarterback at Long Beach (Calif.) Jordan High.
He was born on Feb. 28, 1974. He and his wife, Hale, have 2 daughters, Makena Lei, 14, and Kealia Kei, 11, and a son, Johnny Vicente Jr., 8.
NANSEN SNAPSHOT
BIRTHDAY: Feb. 28, 1974
FAMILY: Wife, Hale; Daughters, Makena Lei, 14, and Kealia Kei, 11; Son, Johnny Vicente Jr., 8
HIGH SCHOOL: Long Beach (Calif.) Jordan HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, business administration, Washington State, 1997
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Long Beach (Calif.) Jordan HS
Washington State, linebacker, 1992-96
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 21 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 1998 | Cabrillo HS | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 1999 | Louisville | Graduate Assistant (Defensive Line) | Humanitarian |
| 2000 | Montana State | Running Backs | -- |
| 2001 | Idaho State | Cornerbacks | -- |
| 2002 | Idaho State | Cornerbacks | -- |
| 2003 | Idaho State | Secondary | -- |
| 2004 | Idaho | Linebackers/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2005 | Idaho | Linebackers/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2006 | Idaho | Linebackers/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2007 | Idaho | Defensive Line/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2008 | Idaho | Defensive Line/Special Teams Coord. | -- |
| 2009 | Washington | Def. Line/Sp. T. Coord./Recruit. Coord. | -- |
| 2010 | Washington | Def. Line/Sp. T. Coord./Recruit. Coord. | Holiday |
| 2011 | Washington | Def. Line/Sp. T. Coord./Recruit. Coord. | Alamo |
| 2012 | Washington | Run. Backs/Sp.T. Coord./Rec. Coord./Asst. HC | Las Vegas |
| 2013 | Washington | Running Backs/Sp. T. Coord./Asst. HC | Fight Hunger* |
| 2014 | USC | Running Backs/Sp. T. Coord./Asst. HC | Holiday |
| 2015 | USC | Running Backs/Sp. T. Coord./Asst. HC | Holiday |
| 2016 | USC | Asst. HC/Linebackers/Recruit. Coord. | Rose |
| 2017 | USC | Asst. HC/Linebackers/Recruit. Coord. | Cotton |
| 2018 | USC | Asst. HC/Linebackers/Recruit. Coord. | -- |
NFL STARS: Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Bishop Sankey, Javorius Allen
