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James Cregg

Position: Offensive Line Coach

James Cregg is in his third year at USC as the offensive line coach. He joined the USC staff in January of 2010 after spending 13 years coaching on the collegiate and NFL levels.

In 2011, USC was second in the nation in sacks allowed, surrendering just 8 (the fewest since records were kept in 1987) and did so while not starting a senior on the line. Offensive tackle Matt Kalil was an All-American first teamer and won the Pac-12 Morris Trophy before being the fourth pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, while offensive guard Marcus Martin was a Freshman All-American first team pick.

In 2010, offensive tackle Tyron Smith won the Pac-10 Morris Trophy, made All-Pac-10 first team and was a first round pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Cregg spent 2009 at Tennessee as the offensive line coach. The Vols tied for the Southeastern Conference regular season lead with only 12 sacks allowed. Cregg's line helped tailback Montario Hardesty rush for 1,345 yards and 13 touchdowns (nearly a 1,000 more yards than he previously had in any season). Tackle Aaron Douglas made the SEC All-Freshman team.

Before that, he was an offensive line assistant with the NFL's Oakland Raiders for 2 years (2007-08).

Cregg, 39, began his coaching career at his alma mater, Colorado State, where he was a student assistant working with the offensive line in 1996 and then a graduate assistant for 3 seasons (1997-99). The Rams went 11-2 in 1997 as they captured the Western Athletic Conference title and won the Holiday Bowl, while the 1999 squad was the Mountain West Conference co-champion and played in the Liberty Bowl.

He then coached the defensive line at Colgate for 4 years (2000-03). The Raiders advanced to the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA championship game, but lost to Delaware to snap a school-record 21-game winning streak. In both of his final 2 seasons, Colgate won the Patriot League title, finished in the Top 10 nationally in rushing defense and was first in the conference in total defense.

He next spent 3 seasons (2004-06) coaching the defensive line at Idaho before moving on to the NFL.

Cregg was a 3-year (1993-95) letterman at Colorado State, starting on the offensive line his final 2 seasons and earning All-WAC honors as a senior. The Rams won the WAC title in 1994 and 1995 and played in the Holiday Bowl both seasons.

He received his bachelor's degree in social science from Colorado State in 1997.

He prepped at Norco (Calif.) High and was elected into the Norco High Hall of Fame in 2001.

He was born Aug. 18, 1973. He and his wife, Dayna, have a daughter, McKenzie, 7.

CREGG SNAPSHOT

BIRTHDAY: Aug. 18, 1973
FAMILY: Wife, Dayna; Daughter, McKenzie, 7
HIGH SCHOOL: Norco (Calif.) HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, social science, Colorado State, 1997
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Norco (Calif.) HS.
Colorado State, offensive line, 1993-95
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 15 years