USC, Smith Negotiating an Extension

Larry Smith, whose five-year contract to coach the USC football team will expire in December, has been negotiating an extension with school officials for about two years, he said.

“I’m not pushing it,” Smith said. “I’d rather get it done before the start of the season, but if it’s not, I’m not going to worry about it. If everything is right, I’ll sign. If it’s not, I won’t.”

Is USC happy with Smith?

“We wouldn’t have extended an offer to extend his contract (if we weren’t),” Athletic Director Mike McGee said.

In the four seasons since Smith was hired away from Arizona to replace Ted Tollner, USC is 35-12-2, including a 26-3-2 record in Pacific 10 Conference games. After each of their first three seasons under Smith, the Trojans played in the Rose Bowl game.

Last season, USC was 8-4-1 overall, 5-2-1 in the Pac-10 and lost to Michigan State in the John Hancock Bowl, 17-16.

Would McGee be surprised if Smith left USC?

“Yes,” he said.