 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Analyst |
| Team | UCLA Bruins |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | (1967-11-29)November 29, 1967 (age 57) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Arizona |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1991 | Mississippi State (GA) |
| 1992 | USC (GA) |
| 1993–1994 | Oklahoma (GA/TE) |
| 1995 | Houston Oilers (DQC) |
| 1996–1999 | Dallas Cowboys (DQC) |
| 2000–2002 | Dallas Cowboys (DB) |
| 2003 | Cleveland Browns (LB) |
| 2004–2008 | Arizona Cardinals (DC) |
| 2009 | Kansas City Chiefs (DC/DB) |
| 2010–2012 | California (DC) |
| 2013 | USC (DC/DB) |
| 2015 | San Francisco 49ers (LB) |
| 2016–2019 | USC (DC) |
| 2021-present | UCLA (Analyst) |
Clarence Clifford Pendergast III[1] (born November 29, 1967) is anAmerican football coach who served asdefensive coordinator for theArizona Cardinals,Kansas City Chiefs,California Golden Bears, andUSC Trojans football teams.
He was a graduate assistant or assistant coach atMississippi State,University of Southern California,University of Oklahoma, andUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham before joining theHouston Oilers in 1995.
After a year with the Oilers, he joined theDallas Cowboys, where he spent seven seasons, first as defensive assistant/quality control/linebackers coach (1996–99), and later handing responsibilities in nickel defense packages (2000) and the secondary (2001–02). Pendergast helped develop first-round draft pickRoy Williams into aPro Bowl safety. In 2003, he was linebackers coach with theCleveland Browns.
While working in Cleveland, Pendergast impressed personnel manJeremy Green to the point that when Green's father,Dennis Green, became the head coach of theArizona Cardinals, Jeremy convinced him to interview Pendergast for the job. Green was so impressed that he hired Pendergast as the Cardinals' Defensive Coordinator.
After Dennis Green's firing, he was retained as defensive coordinator under new Cardinals head coachKen Whisenhunt. Pendergast helped lead the Cardinals intoSuper Bowl XLIII, but was fired on Friday February 6, 2009, less than one week after Arizona lost to Pittsburgh 27–23 in the Super Bowl.[2]
When the Cardinals fired Pendergast, he was immediately linked with a move toKansas City Chiefs. Clancy Pendergast officially became thedefensive coordinator for the Chiefs on March 13, 2009, where he reunited with Head CoachTodd Haley, who was offensive coordinator at Arizona during Pendergast's time there.[3] On January 14, 2010, the Chiefs named formerCleveland Browns head coachRomeo Crennel their newdefensive coordinator. According to NFL.com Pendergast was not retained for the 2010 season by the Chiefs in any coaching position. Pendergast was hired to become the Oakland Raiders defensive backs coach on February 6, 2010.[4]
On February 19, 2010, Pendergast was hired as defensive coordinator for theCalifornia Golden Bears, succeeding Bob Gregory.[5] Under Pendergast, the Golden Bears led the conference in total defense, pass defense and fewest first downs allowed in 2010 and 2011. Pendergast also helped produce nine NFL players, including first-round pick defensive endCameron Jordan, andPac-12 Defensive Player of the Year linebackerMychal Kendricks. He gained a reputation for containing the spread offense after his 2010 Bears slowed downChip Kelly's No. 1 rankedOregon Ducks, holding them to 40 points below their average in a 15–13 loss.[6]
Pendergast was hired by theUSC Trojans as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2013. Under Pendergast, USC's defense shifted from a4–3 alignment to a5–2 with elements of the3–4 defense. Although head coachLane Kiffin was fired midseason, Pendergast's defense finished the season ranked 13th in the nation and led the Pac-12.[7][8]
He did not return to the team in 2014, but did so in 2016 after spending 2015 as inside linebackers coach of theSan Francisco 49ers.[8] Pendergast spent four seasons in his return to the Trojans, and was fired after a 49–24 loss toIowa in2019 Holiday Bowl; in 2019, USC had the 78th-ranked defense and 77th in yardage allowed.[9]
The son of a farmer, Pendergast attendedTolleson High School, where his sister, Bonnie Pendergast, now teaches calculus. He graduated from theUniversity of Arizona in 1990, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. Pendergast did not play football in college, but did coach his fraternity team (Phi Gamma Delta).[10]