The search had been long and debated, but on Wednesday, USF apparently has found their new defensive coordinator.

“The Commish” Justin Pawlowski confirms that the next USF defensive coordinator will be former Bengals and Raiders defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan.

Bresnahan was hired by the Oakland Raiders in 2011 after spending two seasons with the Florida Tuskers of the UFL.  The Raiders ended 2011 ranked 29th in the NFL in yards allowed and was not retained for the 2012 season.  This was Bresnahan’s 2nd stint with the Raiders as he was also their defensive coordinator from 2000-03.

From 2004-07, Bresnahan was with the Cincinnati Bengals with the latter 3 seasons as defensive coordinator.  During Bresnahan’s time as Bengals defensive coordinator, the Bengals were never ranked higher than 25th in total defense.

Bresnahan has been in the NFL for a majority of his coaching career.  The last time he coached at the collegiate ranks was in 1993 as the defensive coordinator at the University of Maine.

New USF head coach Willie Taggart is still piecing together his coaching staff which included an extensive search for his new defensive coordinator.  Names that were rumored to be associated with the USF job were Randy Shannon (Arkansas LBs) and Lance Anderson (Stanford LBs).

With Willie Taggart’s close relationship with 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, one could assume that Harbaugh might have suggested Bresnahan to Taggart, since Harbaugh was the QBs coach with the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and 2003, while Bresnahan was there at the same time as defensive coordinator.

USF has a big recruiting weekend coming up Friday with many prospects coming in for official visits.

Signing Day is February 6th.