Football
- Title:
- Defensive Coordinator
Wilcox, who has been a defensive coordinator at 4 schools, is in his second year (2014-15) at USC as the defensive coordinator. He joined the USC staff in December of 2013.
In 2014, USC’s defense was in the nation’s Top 20 in turnover margin, red zone defense and third down conversion defense. USC played in the 2014 Holiday Bowl.
He served as Washington's defensive coordinator the previous 2 seasons (2012-13). In 2012, the Huskies were in the national Top 40 in total defense, scoring defense and pass defense after finishing the previous year ranked lower than 105th in each category. UW's scoring defense was in the national Top 35 in 2013, while its pass efficiency defense improved 60 spots to 27th nationally in 2012 and then was 11th in 2013 (first in the Pac-12). Its 41 pass sacks in 2013 are second most nationally. The Huskies played in the 2012 Las Vegas Bowl and 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl.
Before that, Wilcox was Tennessee's defensive coordinator for 2 years (2010-11). The Volunteers were 28th nationally in total defense (340.5) in 2011. In 2010, his defense limited foes to 14 or fewer points in 4 November games. Tennessee played in the 2010 Music City Bowl.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boise State in 2001 and 2002. BSU was in the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl.
He then was the linebackers coach at California for 3 seasons (2003-05) as the Golden Bears went 26-12 and played in 3 bowls in that span (2003 Insight Bowl, 2004 Holiday Bowl, 2005 Las Vegas Bowl).
He returned to Boise State as defensive coordinator for 4 seasons (2006-09), helping the Broncos to a 49-4 record while leading the Western Athletic Conference in defense each year. In 2006, BSU was eighth nationally in rushing defense (89.1) as the team went 13-0. In 2008, BSU was third nationally in scoring defense (12.6) as 8 of its 13 opponents scored just 10 points or less. In 2009, BSU was 14th nationally in total defense (300.2) and scoring defense (17.1) and third in turnover margin (+1.5). The Broncos played in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, 2007 Hawaii Bowl, 2008 Poinsettia Bowl and 2010 Fiesta Bowl.
Wilcox, 38, played safety and cornerback at Oregon (1996-99) as the Ducks played in 3 bowl games (1997 Las Vegas Bowl, 1998 Aloha Classic, 1999 Sun Bowl). In 1999, he made the All-Pac-10 second team and Pac-10 All-Academic first team.
He earned his bachelor's degree in anthropology from Oregon in 1999.
He prepped at Junction City (Ore.) High, leading the team to the state 3A title as a junior quarterback in 1993.
He was born Nov. 12, 1976. He is single. His father, Dave Wilcox, was a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers (1964-74). Justin's father (1962-63), as well as his uncle, John (a tackle, 1958-59), and his brother, Josh (a tight end, 1993-96), all played at Oregon. John then played with the Philadelphia Eagles (1960) and Josh with the New Orleans Saints (1998-99).
WILCOX SNAPSHOT
BIRTHDAY: Nov. 12, 1976
FAMILY: Single
HIGH SCHOOL: Junction City (Ore.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, anthropology, Oregon, 1999
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Junction City (Ore.) HS
Oregon, safety-cornerback, 1996-99
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 14 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2001 | Boise State | Graduate Assistant | -- |
| 2002 | Boise State | Graduate Assistant | Humanitarian |
| 2003 | California | Linebackers | Insight |
| 2004 | California | Linebackers | Holiday |
| 2005 | California | Linebackers | Las Vegas |
| 2006 | Boise State | Defensive Coordinator | Fiesta |
| 2007 | Boise State | Defensive Coordinator | Hawaii |
| 2008 | Boise State | Defensive Coordinator | Poinsettia |
| 2009 | Boise State | Defensive Coordinator | Fiesta |
| 2010 | Tennessee | Defensive Coordinator | Music City |
| 2011 | Tennessee | Defensive Coordinator | -- |
| 2012 | Washington | Defensive Coordinator | Las Vegas |
| 2013 | Washington | Defensive Coordinator | Fight Hunger |
| 2014 | USC | Defensive Coordinator | Holiday |
NFL STARS: Kyle Wilson, Desmond Trufant, Malik Jackson, Gerald Alexander, Orlando Scandrick
