Fansided

5 jobs Tom Herman definitely isn’t taking

By John Buhler

Sep 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman walks onto the field prior to the game against Lamar at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman walks onto the field prior to the game against Lamar at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans head coach Clay Helton celebrates after a NCAA football game against the Utah State Aggies at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Utah State 45-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; USC Trojans head coach Clay Helton celebrates after a NCAA football game against the Utah State Aggies at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Utah State 45-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

4. USC Trojans

There isn’t a more insecure Power 5 football program in the country than the USC Trojans. They are the only traditional blue blood that is really struggling in 2016. Does USC have elite player personnel? Absolutely, but the athletic department and coaching staff aren’t doing this program any favors.

USC still has not recovered from the Pete Carroll exodus. Former athletic director Pat Haden made three terrible head coaching hires after Carroll’s departure. Lane Kiffin wasn’t mature enough to be a college head coach. Steve Sarkisian had a substance abuse problem. Clay Helton put together an atrocious coaching staff.

The Trojans have hamstrung themselves with poor coaching hires. Haden didn’t want to be told no by elite head coaches. Now new athletic director Lynn Swann has to pick up the pieces of a once-proud football program that is nearly in ruins.

Firing Helton after one season destroys any sense of job security at USC. No elite head coaching candidate, especially Herman, will want to take a job where he can be fired after one season.

Haden set the Trojans football program back at least five seasons with three bad coaching hires. Swann has to ride this mess out with Helton for a few more years to regain credibility as a program. No self-respecting head coach will leave their current program to coach the Trojans in 2017. Herman won’t even take a phone call for this USC gig.

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