Todd McNair Todd Darren McNair ( born August 16 , 1965 ) is a former professional football player and coach . McNair previously worked for six years as the running back s coach for the USC Trojans football team , until the NCAA issued a one - year show - cause penalty against him as part of sanctions related to the ineligibility of one of his former players , Reggie Bush . McNair currently has a lawsuit pending against the NCAA for libel , slander , breach of contract and four other alleged offenses . On January 20 , 2013 , it was reported that McNair would be hired by the Arizona Cardinals as the running backs coach . However , on February 1 , 2013 , McNair said that he would not be joining the team . Early years . McNair was born in Camden , New Jersey , to Todd McNair , Sr . and Carolyn McNair . He played high school football at Pennsauken High School and was a 1988 graduate of Temple University where he played football . McNair is the uncle of current Pittsburgh Steelers running back Isaac Redman . Younger brother Scott McNair was also a running back at Temple . Professional football career . McNair played professionally in the National Football League ( NFL ) for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Oilers . During his career he filled a variety of roles , including acting as lead blocker , special teams , and third - down back . By the end of his career , he ran for 803 yards with 3 touchdowns , caught 252 passes with 7 touchdowns and averaged 18 . 6 yards on kickoff returns , retiring as the Chiefs ' 10th all - time receiver . Coaching career . McNair retired from professional football in 1996 and began coaching at Camden High School in Camden , New Jersey . McNair was the running back s coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2001 to 2003 , and joined USC in 2004 . In his first season he served as Running Backs Coach , and took on the additional position of Special Teams Coordinator in 2005 . McNair is also considered one of the most effective recruiters in college football . He was named one of the nation ' s top - 25 recruiters by Rivals . com . McNair ' s contract at USC expired June 30 , 2010 and was not renewed after 6 years . He played a key part in the NCAA ' s investigation of the school ' s athletic department dealing with former Trojans running back Reggie Bush . The 2004 and 2005 USC Trojans football team s have had wins vacated and a BCS National Championship stripped following NCAA rulings that running back Reggie Bush was ineligible due to improper benefits . These sanctions have been criticized by some NCAA football writers , including ESPN ’ s Ted Miller , who wrote , “ It ' s become an accepted fact among informed college football observers that the NCAA sanctions against USC were a travesty of justice , and the NCAA ’ s refusal to revisit that travesty are a massive act of cowardice on the part of the organization . ” The NCAA ruled that McNair had engaged in unethical conduct , claiming that McNair had known about some of Bush ' s improperly received benefits , and sanctioned him with a show - cause penalty , prohibiting his interactions with football recruits for one year . Following a failed appeal of his sanctions , McNair announced an intent to sue the NCAA , accusing the body of libel , slander and misconduct . On January 20 , 2013 , it was reported that McNair would be the new running backs coach of the Arizona Cardinals . However , 12 days later , McNair stated that he would not be joining the Cardinals ' coaching staff . Animal cruelty charges . McNair was twice convicted on misdemeanor charges related to mistreatment of dogs . In July 1993 , McNair was convicted of animal neglect , fined $ 500 and put on probation . In October 1996 , McNair was convicted on 17 counts of animal cruelty and failure to license dogs and ordered to pay nearly $ 25 , 000 in fines and perform eight hours of community service . Case investigators alleged that McNair was involved in dog fighting with pit bull s , but the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence for a conviction on those charges . Lawsuit against the NCAA . On June 6 , 2011 , McNair filed suit against the NCAA , alleging that the collegiate athletics governing body wrongfully caused him to lose his job with the Trojans because of punishment handed down in 2010 in the Reggie Bush case . The suit , filed in Los Angeles Superior Court , seeks unspecified damages for libel , slander , breach of contract and four other alleged offenses . It also takes issue with the one - sided examination policy established by the NCAA , which doesn ' t allow those targeted by investigations to cross - examine witnesses used . The disputed issues in McNair ' s appeal centered on the believability of one of the NCAA ' s key witnesses in the case , Lloyd Lake , the would - be sports marketer who allegedly provided substantial amounts of money to Reggie Bush ' s family over a two - year period while the star running back played for the Trojans . McNair , the NCAA ruled last June , either knew or should have known about Bush ' s relationship with Lake and purposely misled investigators . But McNair said that he did not know about the relationship between Lake and Bush , and that the NCAA itself committed misconduct in the process of its investigation . In November 2012 , Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Frederick Shaller ruled that the NCAA was " malicious " in its investigation of McNair . In his ruling , the Judge stated that e - mails between an investigative committee member , an NCAA worker , and a person who works in the agency ' s appeals division " tend to show ill will or hatred " toward McNair . In an e - mail , one staffer called McNair " a lying morally bankrupt criminal , in my view , and a hypocrite of the highest order . " Judge Shaller said he would unseal the entire inquiry into McNair in December .