USC fires head coach Steve Sarkisian
USC has fired head coach Steve Sarkisian, athletic director Pat Haden announced Monday.
"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," 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."
On Sunday, USC placed Sarkisian on a leave of absence, and named Helton as interim head coach.
Sarkisian has had problems with alcohol dating back to his days as head coach at Washington.
The second-year coach has been in the spotlight frequently this season. In August, Sarkisian appeared to be intoxicated at a public event on campus.
Former USC, and current Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll spoke to ESPN about his former assistant's situation.
"It breaks my heart to see how this has gone. But he recognizes it and he's going to do something about it, so this is the day the turn occurs," Carroll said.
In his two years as Trojans coach, Sarkisian had a record of 11-5.