Lane Kiffin adds James Cregg to staff

USC’s new coaching staff continues to take on a Tennessee flavor.

Coach Lane Kiffin announced Wednesday that he has hired assistant James Cregg, Tennessee’s offensive line coach last season.

Cregg, 36, is the third coach from Kiffin’s Tennessee staff to move to USC, joining Ed Orgeron, the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, and Monte Kiffin, the defensive coordinator.

Before coaching at Tennessee, Cregg was an offensive line assistant for the Oakland Raiders during Kiffin’s brief tenure with the NFL team. In a press release from USC, Kiffin did not specify what position Cregg would coach with the Trojans.

Also on Wednesday, former coach Pete Carroll confirmed Jeremy Bates would join him as offensive coordinator and Ken Norton would coach linebackers with the Seattle Seahawks. Brian Schneider, who coached USC special teams last season, also is on Carroll’s staff.

Ready to go

Receiver Kyle Prater has begun attending classes at USC and will participate in spring practice.

Prater, from Proviso West High in Illinois, was regarded as one of the key recruits in a class that was in danger of falling apart when Carroll left to become coach of the Seahawks.

Multipurpose standout Dillon Baxter of San Diego Mission Bay High reaffirmed his commitment to USC on Tuesday, telling San Diego television station KUSI that he would begin attending classes next week and participate in spring practice.

Senior Bowl

Former offensive lineman Charles Brown, running back Stafon Johnson, tight end Anthony McCoy and safety Taylor Mays are scheduled to participate in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 30 in Mobile, Ala.

gary.klein@latimes.com

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