What Lincoln Riley Said About 'Tremendous' Hire Trumain Carroll, USC Strength Coach

For USC, the hire signals a continued push to elevate its player development infrastructure under Riley, particularly following the departure of former strength coach Bennie Wylie. The timing is notable, with the Trojans coming off their first season in the Big Ten and working to solidify a 2026 recruiting class currently ranked No. 1 nationally by 247Sports.

Carroll brings experience at nearly every level of college football. Prior to his tenure at Kansas State, he led strength and conditioning programs at South Florida (2020), Arkansas (2018–19), and SMU (2015–17), where he worked with future NFL talents such as Courtland Sutton and Trey Quinn. His earlier roles included stops at Oklahoma State, South Carolina State, and Missouri-Kansas City, giving him a wide-ranging view of athlete development across different regions and program levels.

A former Oklahoma State defensive end from 2001 to 2005, Carroll helped the Cowboys reach three consecutive bowl games as a player. He holds certifications from both the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and USA Weightlifting and earned his Master Strength and Conditioning Certification in 2020.

Carroll is expected to make an immediate impact in the weight room and on the practice field, where USC’s younger players, including several blue-chip recruits, will benefit from his proven track record of physical development and injury prevention.

With spring workouts in the rearview and official visits on the horizon, Carroll’s addition adds another layer to USC’s pitch: a strength program led by one of the most respected names in the field.

His hiring is contingent upon the successful completion of a standard background screening, per USC Athletics.