Carroll, Pete (1951-…), ranks among the most successful coaches in the history of American football. Carroll was head coach at the University of Southern California (USC) from 2001 to 2009. During those nine seasons, his teams won 97 games and lost 19 and won national championships in 2003 and 2004. Carroll’s teams won a school record 34 straight games from 2003 to 2005 before losing to Texas in the national championship game in 2006. Carroll coached numerous All-American players, including three Heisman Trophy winners—Carson Palmer (2002), Matt Leinart (2004), and Reggie Bush (2005). Carroll left USC after the 2009 season to become head coach of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Carroll coached the Seahawks from 2009 to 2024. During his 14 seasons with the Seahawks, the team made the playoffs 10 times and won the 2014 Super Bowl.
Peter Clay Carroll was born on Sept. 15, 1951, in San Francisco. He was a star defensive back at the University of the Pacific, where he earned a B.A. degree in 1973 and an M.A. degree in 1976. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pacific in 1974.
Carroll was a college assistant coach until 1984, when he became defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills of the NFL. He held the same position with the Minnesota Vikings from 1985 to 1989. He was defensive coordinator of the New York Jets from 1990 to 1993, after which he became the team’s head coach. He spent two seasons (1995 and 1996) as a defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He served as head coach of the New England Patriots from 1997 to 1999. Carroll was a consultant to college and professional teams in 2000 before becoming head coach of USC in 2001.
