http://www.campusrush.com/college-football-coaching-carousel-black-sunday-primer-1472034134.html
1. There is no bigger enigma on the coaching carousel than USC, where the only insight has been that athletic director Pat Haden is hoping interim coach Clay Helton wins the job. Some would argue that promoting Helton to the full-time gig would translate to simply pushing the program's issues down the road for three years. So far, however, it's the only consistent read on what Haden might do.
What's known about USC is this: There isn't expected to be a search firm involved to help Haden, who has endured poor physical health for much of the last year. (There may be one brought in for background.)
It's hard to blame USC fans for being nervous. The Sarkisian hire was an unmitigated disaster, a medley of administrative nostalgia, naiveté and lack of research that has made the Trojans an industry laughing stock. (Haden's hiring of former Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball coach Andy Enfield is also trending toward implosion, as Enfield is 5–31 in Pac-12 play over his first two seasons. Haden projects to be 0–2 in sports coaching hires that truly matter.)
Making a list of qualified and realistic USC candidates is tricky. Could the school lure an established coach like Bob Stoops, Gary Patterson, Pat Fitzgerald or Dan Mullen? (Or maybe take a flyer on a rising star like Pittsburgh's Pat Narduzzi or Houston's Tom Herman?) USC failed to lure Kevin Sumlin the last time it was vacant, so his name isn't expected to emerge. There is no logical geographical name to consider other than Utah's Kyle Whittingham, and he is considered a bit of a reach and a questionable fit. USC is the central mystery in the coaching market. If Helton can't hold on to the job by beating UCLA this week and potentially winning the Pac-12 title game against Stanford, there is little indication of where the school could turn.
1. There is no bigger enigma on the coaching carousel than USC, where the only insight has been that athletic director Pat Haden is hoping interim coach Clay Helton wins the job. Some would argue that promoting Helton to the full-time gig would translate to simply pushing the program's issues down the road for three years. So far, however, it's the only consistent read on what Haden might do.
What's known about USC is this: There isn't expected to be a search firm involved to help Haden, who has endured poor physical health for much of the last year. (There may be one brought in for background.)
It's hard to blame USC fans for being nervous. The Sarkisian hire was an unmitigated disaster, a medley of administrative nostalgia, naiveté and lack of research that has made the Trojans an industry laughing stock. (Haden's hiring of former Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball coach Andy Enfield is also trending toward implosion, as Enfield is 5–31 in Pac-12 play over his first two seasons. Haden projects to be 0–2 in sports coaching hires that truly matter.)
Making a list of qualified and realistic USC candidates is tricky. Could the school lure an established coach like Bob Stoops, Gary Patterson, Pat Fitzgerald or Dan Mullen? (Or maybe take a flyer on a rising star like Pittsburgh's Pat Narduzzi or Houston's Tom Herman?) USC failed to lure Kevin Sumlin the last time it was vacant, so his name isn't expected to emerge. There is no logical geographical name to consider other than Utah's Kyle Whittingham, and he is considered a bit of a reach and a questionable fit. USC is the central mystery in the coaching market. If Helton can't hold on to the job by beating UCLA this week and potentially winning the Pac-12 title game against Stanford, there is little indication of where the school could turn.
