Hackett Hopes to Score With the Chiefs’ Success

New USC Coach Paul Hackett’s best recruiting spiel--and his best way to quiet any talk of transferring after the firing of John Robinson--is one no other college coach can match.

“I can understand how they might feel and how our recruits would feel. But turn on the television and watch the Chiefs, and listen to what I say, and we’ll see how it all unfolds,” Hackett said Thursday by conference call in his first public comments as USC coach.

Hackett signed a five-year deal this week worth at least $3.5 million, with a starting salary of $650,000 next year that ratchets upward.

“First of all, I want to say it is an honor and a privilege to be the head coach at USC,” said Hackett, first contacted by Athletic Director Mike Garrett Saturday at his San Diego hotel room when the Kansas City Chiefs were preparing to play the Chargers.

By Monday night, he met with university counsel Bob Lane in Kansas City, and by Tuesday morning, he was cinching the job in an interview with USC President Steven B. Sample and Garrett. Wednesday morning, he was named coach.

Hackett is sticking with the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive coordinator until they are eliminated--which can be no sooner than Jan. 3 and as late as the Jan. 25 Super Bowl, only days before the NCAA’s Feb. 4 signing date for high school players.

But with a bye week next week after the regular-season finale against New Orleans on Sunday, he will come to Los Angeles Monday and meet with the USC staff--still on the job despite Robinson’s firing--for the first time Tuesday. After interviewing the existing assistant coaches, he’ll start putting together his staff.

“I’m jacked up,” Hackett said. “I’m in a very unusual situation that I am very sensitive to. But I have made a commitment and I’m going to finish this commitment. If I can’t finish a commitment, then how am I as a teacher of young men?

“That’s what I’m going to do. The people in Kansas City understand that and the people at the university understand that. I hope the people on the team and that are going to come to USC do. I’m going to try to make them Kansas City Chiefs fans for a month, and then we’ll do it all together as Trojans.”