Les Miles: Five potential new jobs for former LSU head coach
By John Buhler
3. USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are now the worst team in the Pac-12 South now that the Colorado Buffaloes have arrived under head coach Mike McIntyre. The Buffs will challenge their Rocky Mountain rival Utah for Pac-12 South supremacy. UCLA is decent and both Arizona schools are better than the Trojans in 2016.
USC is 1-3 and head coach Clay Helton is in way over his head coaching the Trojans. He assembled an underwhelming staff. Offensive coordinator Tee Martin doesn’t know what he’s doing calling plays. New athletic director Lynn Swann has to deal with the monstrosity that his predecessor Pat Haden shamelessly created out of fear.
Swann could fire Helton, but that would destroy any dignity the USC head coaching position could have to land a top-tier coach. USC would have to settle for a retread to replace Helton, as no respectable coach will leave his current job for one with no perceived stability.
Since Miles is out of a job, he actually might be the best coaching candidate USC could conceivably land. Miles is still respected in coaching circles, unlike former Baylor Bears head coach Art Briles. USC lands top-tier talent on name recognition alone.
Miles will bring an attitude of toughness to a soft Trojans program and have them back in Pac-12 contention within two years. Does he want to go to a chaotic situation in Los Angeles is the biggest question Miles will have to answer with regard to this high-profile job.