Jan. 20--Former USC All-American defensive lineman Kenechi Udeze has joined the Trojans' staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach, the school announced.
Udeze, who played at Los Angeles Verbum Dei High, was a 2003 consensus All-American for the Trojans after recording 26 tackles for losses, including 16 1/2 sacks.
Udeze made himself available for the 2004 NFL draft and was selected 20th overall by the Minnesota Vikings.
He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2008 and retired from the NFL in 2009.
Udeze was an assistant strength coach at the University of Washington for three seasons, interned with the Seattle Seahawks and worked as a coaching fellow for the Vikings.
He joined the University of Pittsburgh staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2014.
