Steve Sarkisian Fired As USC’s Head Coach

USC announced on Monday afternoon that it terminated the contract of Steve Sarkisian as the football team’s head 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,” said Pat Haden in a statement.

This is the second time the team has fired its head coach in three years, the first being Lane Kiffin’s termination after a loss to Arizona State.

The announcement comes only one day after Haden announced that Sarkisian would take a leave of absence due to the athletic director deeming Sark “not healthy” after he missed Sunday’s practice.

READ MORE: Sarkisian Just Another Low Point Among Many For USC

Haden then announced that offensive coordinator Clay Helton would fill in as the team’s interim coach.

Said Haden today in the press release: “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.”

Multiple reports are that Sarkisian showed up to work on Sunday morning and was not right during the team meetings, which led to Haden asking Sarkisian to take a leave of absence and seek treatment.

Furthermore, the LA Times released a report today chronicling Sarkisian’s alcohol expenditures during his time at Washington and at USC.

“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,” Haden said of Sarkisian.

The Trojans are facing Notre Dame this weekend in South Bend, where Clay Helton will be the interim head coach for the second time in his career. Helton coached the Trojans in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl, as they beat Fresno State.

You can reach Sports Editor Paolo Uggetti here, or follow him on Twitter@PaoloUggetti.

Video by Connor McGlynn.