USC announced on Monday, October 12, that it has fired head coach Steve Sarkisian. This move comes one day after athletic director Pat Haden placed Sarkisian on an indefinite leave of absence. The sports outlet SB Nation is reporting that a source close to Sarkisian says he has checked himself into a residential treatment facility.
USC announced the firing of Sarkisian on its athletic website under the heading “Sarkisian Terminated As USC Football Coach.”
“After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately,” USC athletic director Pat Haden, said in a statement.
“I want to thank Clay Helton for stepping into the interim head coach role, and I want to add how proud I am of our coaching staff and players and the way they are responding to this difficult situation. Through all of this, we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well-being.”
According to 710 ESPN Seattle, former USC head coach Pete Carroll has reached out to Sarkisian. “It breaks my heart to see how this has gone,” said Carroll, now the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. But he recognizes it and he’s going to do something about it, so this is the day the turn occurs.” “I’m grateful for everybody around him that he’s finally figured it out. This is going to take a long time. This is big battle and we’ll pull for him all the way,” Carroll said.
Clay Helton, the current offensive coordinator and longest-serving assistant coach at USC will step in as interim head coach. “Fortunately or unfortunately, I’ve been in this situation before, and once again am very fortunate to have a group of first-class kids that are extremely talented and want to do something special here,” Helton said.
Sarkisian leaves the Trojans as they prepare to battle No.14 Notre Dame on Saturday, October 17 at Notre Dame stadium. The Trojans are currently unranked, at 3-2, and have a difficult schedule ahead as they face No. 4 Utah, No. 23 Cal, as they seek to remain in playoff contention for the Pac 12-South championship.
At press time, Sarkisian had not issued a public
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