The USC Trojans announced that they will keep interim head football coach Clay Helton on a permanent basis.
OFFICIAL: Clay Helton named permanent USC head coach by athletic director Pat Haden. #FightOn
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) November 30, 2015
Helton took over the USC job after head coach Steve Sarkisian was fired after a home loss to Washington earlier this season due to repeated alcohol-related incidents.
The Trojans were just 3-2 at the time, but have gone 5-2 under Helton, culminating in their first win over UCLA in four years and a Pac-12 South championship for the first time since the conference split into two divisions in 2011.
“We have a man with unquestioned integrity," USC AD Pat Haden said. "He is a fantastic person and he is real. Clay is a leader of young men. He is a terrific communicator. He brings high character, stability, continuity, consistency, toughness and resiliency.”
Helton has been on USC's coaching staff since 2010 and served as the Trojans' interim head coach in 2013 as well, coaching the team to a Las Vegas Bowl victory in 2013.
USC was rumored to be pursuing Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly to be their head coach, but Helton has done enough over the past seven games to keep the job.
Follow our USC Trojans news page for all the latest USC football news!
Back to the USC Trojans Newsfeed