U of Southern California Fires Head Football Coach

Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will take over as interim coach for the 3-2 Trojans.

Haden wasn’t specific about the reasons for Sarkisian’s absence, only saying the second-year coach is “not healthy”.

Sarkisian coached the Trojans to a 12-6 record during one full season and part of 2015. But right now his No. 1 priority is getting himself well.

“We’ll take the same approach as we did the last time we were in this”, Helton said. “It’s unfortunate that sometimes the personal things affect the business”. “I called Steve and talked to him”.

Carroll said he had communicated with Sarkisian recently. He has a lot to offer the world. And he’s made it hard on people around him, too.

It is clear that Sarkisian has an issue and first and foremost it is one that needs to be taken care of immediately in order to get better. He was not disciplined at the time, and afterward he said that he had mixed medication with alcohol and did not believe that he had a drinking problem. A brief statement from USC Athletics Director Pat Haden announced the news on the school’s website.

Sarkisian is going through an alleged bitter divorce. They have three children. Wolken argues each coach has made the most of their opportunity at non-traditional powerhouse football schools and could be interested in USC because of the program’s storied history and previous success on the national stage.

Their unpredictability might cause many to stay away from this game because it’s anybody’s guess which USC team will show up.

Haden had received criticism for the way he handled the Sarkisian situation, dating back to when he didn’t discipline the coach for his inappropriate behavior at the annual Salute to Troy event. He reportedly will seek treatment for alcohol.

Sarkisian has a solid coaching resume. Although Roman has never been a head coach at any level, he knows the Pac-12 well after working as an assistant to Jim Harbaugh at Stanford before Harbaugh brought Roman along to the 49ers.

“This is a tough job”, Petersen said Monday. “You just feel bad for the whole situation for everybody. Haden is doing a few serious backpedaling-probably to save his own job.

One USC student is still hopeful about Sarkisian’s recovery. When Carroll departed for the Seattle Seahawks, then-athletic director Mike Garrett hired former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin in what was expected to be a rebuilding effort with NCAA sanctions. The former player added, “But, he always showed up ready for football”.

The Trojans then had four head coaches in 2013, with interim coach Ed Orgeron quitting in disappointment after Sarkisian was hired over him. Herman is the least qualified on this list in terms of head coaching experience, but what he’s done for Ohio State and Houston should not go unlooked.

USC did not practice on Monday, so players were scattered and being informed via text messages by the coaches of their position groups.