LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California athletic director Pat Haden defended both his hiring and firing of Steve Sarkisian on Tuesday, saying the troubled football coach passed a thorough background check and had no behavioral missteps until the last two months.
Haden said he sent a letter of termination to Sarkisian when he was unable to contact the coach personally, one day after Sarkisian showed up to work "unwell." Interim coach Clay Helton will lead the Trojans (3-2, 1-2 Pac-12) against No. 14 Notre Dame on Saturday.
"I was able to gather facts and determine that Steve's conduct did not meet USC standards and expectations of a head coach," Haden said.