A day after placing Steve Sarkisian on an indefinite leave of absence, USC athletic director Pat Haden announced Monday the firing of the second-year Trojans coach. Offensive coordinator Clay Helton will be USC's interim coach when the Trojans travel to South Bend to play Notre Dame Saturday night.
"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."
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Sarkisian reportedly was not sober when he showed up to a special teams meeting Sunday and was sent home before the Trojans' practice. The Los Angeles Times reported Sarkisian's issues with alcohol dated back to his time as Washington's coach, while the Los Angeles Daily News reported this Sunday evening:
Helton will be the fourth USC coach Notre Dame will face in the last four years: Lane Kiffin in 2012, Ed Orgeron in 2013, Sarkisian in 2014 and now Helton.