After building the TCU program over two decades as the second-longest tenured head coach at one school, and with a legacy cemented as one of the top defensive minds in football at any level, Gary Patterson went on to work in consultant roles in 2022 at Texas and 2024 at Baylor.
Now back in a role calling the defense for Lincoln Riley's USC program, Patterson is reportedly set to bring a longtime colleague west with him.
CBS Sports has shared that Baylor pass game coordinator Paul Gonzales is expected to join the Trojans staff with Patterson.
Gonzales, who just wrapped up his first season with Baylor, previously worked with Patterson at TCU from 2012-21.
The Bears pass defense was a strength this past season under Dave Aranda, as Gonzales helped to oversee a unit that finished 31st nationally in pass defense last fall. That marked significant improvement of nearly 60 spots as they finished 94th in the same metric in 2024.
A native of San Jose, Gonzales developed six Horned Frogs safeties into NFL players over his final seven seasons with the program.
From 2015-17 he coached the TCU corners, as the Horned Frogs defense ranked first in the Big 12 in fewest touchdown passes allowed, opponent completion percentage, and pass efficiency defense.
He made the jump to major college football after two seasons coaching the defensive backs at Pacific (D-III - OR), and was a defensive assistant at UC-Davis (FCS) for two seasons as well earlier in his career.
The hire of Gonzales will bring familiarity with Patterson's scheme, and immediately help the transition of what has immediately felt like a signature hire for Lincoln Riley's program at USC.
Coming off a 9-4 season, defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn opted to take the defensive coordinator job at his alma mater Penn State under new head coach Matt Campbell.
Riley's offenses have been as explosive as any during his stops at Oklahoma and USC, but have been haunted by defenses lapses and poor tackling plenty of times at both stops.
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