Iconic football coach, champion, and leadership visionary Pete Carroll will serve as the 2026 commencement speaker for USC Marshall School of Business.

For more than five decades, Carroll has been one of the most influential figures in American sports, building championship teams and cultures of excellence at every level of the game. Drawing from his experience as a championship head coach in college football and the NFL, Carroll will share lessons on leadership, resilience, and the relentless mindset that defined his extraordinary career.

“I am fired up to return to USC and the L.A. Coliseum, the place where we competed, won, and shared lifelong memories with the Trojan Family,” says Carroll. “I look forward to celebrating and challenging the Marshall Class of 2026 to pursue excellence in everything they do.”

Carroll is deeply connected to the Marshall community. In 2025, he co-taught the Marshall course, The Game is Life bringing his signature “Win Forever” philosophy of competition, purpose-driven performance and growth to help students develop their personal gameplan for life after graduation.

At USC, Carroll transformed a struggling football program into a powerhouse, leading the Trojans to seven consecutive Pac-10 championships and two national championships. His teams posted an extraordinary 97-19 record over nine seasons, making USC the first school in history to win three consecutive Rose Bowls. The dynasty produced NFL Hall of Famers and Heisman Trophy winners — reflecting Carroll’s commitment to develop not just exceptional athletes, but exceptional people.

Carroll later brought that same culture of excellence to the NFL as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, leading the franchise to a Super Bowl XLVIII championship where Seattle defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8. He is one of only three coaches in history to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl.

Throughout his career, Carroll has championed the belief that competing at the highest level and caring deeply about people are not mutually exclusive — a message as relevant in business as it is on the field. His leadership framework, built on relentless optimism, accountability, and purpose-driven performance, has inspired students, athletes, executives, and teams across industries.

“Pete Carroll is a football icon and a Trojan legend. The key to his success is knowing that winning teams are built on winning cultures, bringing out the best in people – on the field and throughout their lives,” says Geoff Garrett, dean of USC Marshall School of Business. “Pete embodies the kind of human leadership we strive to develop at USC Marshall, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back to inspire the Class of 2026 as they begin the next chapter of their leadership journeys.”