Pete Carroll coached at several colleges and universities throughout his career. He started as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas in 1977, working with the secondary under Bob Cope. He then went on to coach at the following institutions:

• Ohio State (secondary coach)
• North Carolina State (defensive coordinator)
• Pacific (offensive coordinator)
• Buffalo Bills (defensive backs coach)
• Minnesota Vikings (defensive backs coach)
• New York Jets (defensive coordinator)
• San Francisco 49ers (defensive coordinator)
• New England Patriots (head coach)
• USC (head coach)
• Seattle Seahawks (head coach)

Carroll led a resurgence of football at USC, where he was generally regarded as one of the top college football coaches in the country. He won two back-to-back National Championships in 2003 and 2004, and led the team to six bowl game victories.