![\"USC](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/USC_GM.jpg\")
University of Southern California (USC) head football coach Clay Helton will be giving the command \u201cDrivers, start your engines,\u201d as part of his duties as Grand Marshal for the 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, officials announced.<\/p>\n
Helton, who is 16-7 as the Trojans\u2019 head coach, will attend the Verizon IndyCar Series Driver\u2019s meeting, visit the race teams in their paddocks, take a pre-race hot lap around the track with legendary driver Mario Andretti, greet drivers as they are introduced before the race and participate in the parade and pace laps prior to the start of Sunday\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am honored and thrilled to serve as Grand Marshal of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, representing our football team and the Trojan family,\u201d Helton said in a statement. \u201cIt will be exciting to get an up-close look at the incredibly skilled drivers and their support teams, and the cars they drive, as well as seeing all that goes into making the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach such an iconic sporting event.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2016, Helton coached the Trojans to a 10-3 season, which included wins over No. 4 Washington, No. 5 Penn State and No. 21 Colorado. That same year he was a finalist for Paul \u201cBear\u201d Bryant Coach of the Year Award and won the Football Writers First Year Co-Coach of the Year honors.<\/p>\n
He joined USC coaching staff in 2010 as a quarterback coach, was named passing game coordinator in 2012, offensive coordinator in 2013 and head coach in 2015, dropping the interim head coach title he held for the final seven games of USC\u2019s season.<\/p>\n
The Trojans, defending Rose Bowl champions, will return highly ranked for the 2017 season.<\/p>\n
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