White Expected to Join USC Staff : Football: Former Heisman winner to coach running backs. Lindsey also returns.

The finishing touches are being put on John Robinson’s USC football staff.

Former Heisman Trophy winner Charles White is expected to be hired within the next few days to coach the running backs.

And Wednesday, former assistant Don Lindsey officially rejoined Robinson, becoming the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

For White, who ended his nine-year NFL career in 1988, it would be his first coaching job. Since 1990, he has been a special assistant to USC Athletic Director Mike McGee, helping former Trojan athletes return to school to gain their degrees.

“There is a strong possibility that I could be joining the (football) staff,” said White, USC’s all-time rushing leader with 6,245 yards. “There definitely has been some discussion, but an official decision will be made soon.”

If White is added to the staff, Robinson, who replaced Larry Smith on Jan. 3, will have one position left--a second linebackers coach. Lindsey, defensive coordinator at Missouri last season, coached at USC from 1971-80.

“Don is one of the brightest, most experienced and very best coaches I’ve ever known,” Robinson said. “I’m just very pleased he’s joining our staff.”

For Lindsey--defensive coordinator at Arkansas from 1981-84, at Georgia Tech from 1984-87, and at Alabama from 1988-90--it will be his first offensive assignment since 1969, when he coached quarterbacks under Jim Sweeney at Washington State.

“It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was best for everybody that it was made,” said Lindsey, 49, who coached USC’s linebackers from 1971-75 under John McKay and was the Trojans’ defensive coordinator from 1975-81 under Robinson. “It was a matter of taking care of my family. There was not a single school, place or coach I would have been interested in (other than USC).”