USC football: Joe Barry officially joins staff as linebackers coach

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Lane Kiffin finally made it official.

USC’s coach announced that Joe Barry, who was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers coach in 2009, had been hired for a similar position with the Trojans.

Barry, a former USC linebacker and graduate assistant, on Tuesday told Tampa Bay-area reporters that he was leaving the NFL team to return to the Trojans. Neither Kiffin nor USC officials would confirm Barry’s hiring until Thursday.

“When we were hired, we said we would put together the best coaching staff in the country,” Kiffin said in a statement. “In Joe Barry, we’ve hit a home run. He was the only linebacker coach we went after and, although it took a while, we’re excited to bring him back to the Trojan family.

‘He is an outstanding coach who has been part of Rose Bowl and Super Bowl championship teams, and he has produced some great linebackers during his terrific NFL career. One day, he’ll be a great head coach as well.”

-- Gary Klein