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USC announces termination of Steve Sarkisian as head football coach

By Jack Crosby

Aug 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian reacts after the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Fresno State 52-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian reacts after the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Fresno State 52-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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One day after he was put on a leave of absence, USC Trojans head coach Steve Sarkisian has been terminated

Sunday we learned of the news that USC Football head coach Steve Sarkisian was put on a leave of absence after he reportedly showed up to practice under the influence. From there, it was also reported that he would be entering rehab for his substance issues. People assumed that it was only a matter of time before Sarkisian was terminated as the head coach of the Trojans.

Well, that termination announcement didn’t take long, as just a short time ago USC announced that Sarkisian is no longer the head coach of the program.

Athletic Director Pat Haden released the following statement:

"“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.“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.”"

Sarkisian was hired right at the end of the 2013 season following the firing of Lane Kiffin. Once an assistant coach under Pete Carroll, Sarkisian was seen by some, especially Haden, as the man that could lead this program back to the prominence that it once enjoyed. However, things did not work out that way. Last season they finished with a 9-4 record, and now at the time of his firing, they sit at 3-2 on the season after coming in with such high expectations in 2015.

Their last game was the latest embarrassing loss, as they were defeated 17-12 at home by a Washington team that by all rights they should have manhandled.

After coming in with high expectations of his own, Sarkisian finishes his career as USC head coach with a record of 12-6, including 7-5 in the Pac-12.

Now, though, football records mean nothing, as all that matters now is that Coach Sark can get himself healthy again.

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