Browne would be eligible to play elsewhere as a graduate transfer next season, so Athletic Director Pat Haden’s decision on a head coach was even more important to him.
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USC has removed the interim tag from head coach Clay Helton, making him the official replacement to Steve Sarkisian, the school announced on Monday.
The Trojans beat UCLA 40-21 on Saturday to win the Pac-12 South and clinch a spot in the conference title game against Stanford. USC’s team meeting still erupted into raucous celebrations on Monday when Haden told the players about Helton’s promotion.
“I think about the seniors and the roller coaster ride they have gone through, for them to be able to call themselves Pac-12 South champions is a victory”, Helton said.
The Memphis Tigers are on the lookout for a brand new head football coach following the departure of Justin Fuente to Virginia Tech, still there’s loads of different coaching news source being made which will (or may not) have an effect on the local search.
An assistant under Kiffin and Sarkisian, both of whom introduced finesse offenses, Helton worked to return USC to its roots. He brings high character, stability, continuity, consistency, toughness and resiliency to our program.
Numerous players faced the possibility of having a fifth head coach in three seasons.
Helton has been on the Trojans’ staff since 2010, first as quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator.
Helton is a safe choice for Haden, especially when names like Chip Kelly, Sean Payton, Les Miles and John Harbaugh were tossed around as rumored candidates. Haden did acknowledge that the team discussed the job with Greg Schiano, the former Rutgers coach. “But to play them the same year, you guard against thinking the same thing that worked last time is going to work this time”. “I am so proud to have the chance to lead what I feel is the pinnacle of college football and to represent our Trojan Family”, Helton said.
This was Helton’s second stint as USC’s interim, previously replacing interim coach Ed Orgeron in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl. And he was not hired because he is a Trojan.
Clay Helton has twice taken charge of the Southern California football program in moments of crisis and steadied the Trojans with calm leadership.
He was offensive coordinator when Sarkisian was sacked on October 12. Helton said that third down and long situations make the team one-dimensional and expose the quarterback, but that if they can run the ball effectively to begin the series then they can open up the play action and free up receivers downfield for big plays.
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“I apologize for not being glitzy”, Helton said.
