Why did USC fire Clay Helton? Loss to Stanford was final straw in disappointing tenure

USC on Monday revealed the firing of head instructor Clay Helton, 2 days after the 14th-ranked Trojans' 42-28 loss to unranked Stanford.

Sports director Mike Bohn announced the action, stating USC" provided every source required for our program to complete for championships"over the last two college football offseasons. Bohn included that those additions produced heightened expectations for the program and, after the loss to the Cardinal, it was evident they would not be satisfied" without a modification in leadership." We are making a modification in the management of our football

program. #FightOn pic.twitter.com/xChL8xi0oG-- Mike Bohn(@USC_mikebohn)September 13, 2021 EVEN MORE: College Football Week 2 Takeaways: Oregon shreds Ohio State; Texas fails Bohn introduced cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game planner Donte Williams would take over as interim train for the rest of the season. Helton later on launched a statement regarding his shooting: Thanks Trojan Household. Battle On! pic.twitter.com/ejZe6Pr5rV-- Clay Helton (@USCCoachHelton)September 14, 2021 The news lastly finishes Helton's USC career after numerous seasons that can be referred to as irritating for Trojans followers; he took control of head coaching obligations full-time in 2016, going 10-3 as well as 11-3 in his first 2 years there, respectively. After that, Helton's Trojans never won more than 8 video games in a period, going 5-7, 8-5 and also 5-1 in 2018, '19 and also '20, respectively(the Trojans were only able to play 6 video games in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic). He faced considerable pressure during the 2019 project however got Bohn's backing-- with a caution-- on Dec. 4, 2019:"Train Helton and I will certainly work together to take a difficult consider all facets of the football venture,"

Bohn stated,"as well as will make the difficult decisions needed to contend at a champion level. "It shows up Bohn's patience and support went out after Helton's newest loss. With that said, Sporting Information breaks down USC's decision to fire Helton, his career as the Trojans 'head trainer and also where the program heads from below:

Why did USC fire Clay Helton?

Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported Monday that USC was "discouraged" by the group's blowout loss to Stanford. Despite outgaining the Cardinal 408-375, the Trojans surrendered five goals in 10 drives and a 31-yard interception return for touchdown. Ball game likewise wasn't a measure of exactly how completely Stanford defeated USC: The Trojans faced a 42-13 deficit in the 4th quarter prior to racking up 2 goals in the last six minutes.

Helton had not been fired just due to a poor revealing versus Stanford, nevertheless; it was simply the last straw in what has actually been a largely aggravating period for Trojans followers.

MORE: Very early finalizing period the most recent loss for USC instructor Clay Helton

What was Clay Helton's record at USC?

Helton went 46-24 at USC, a. 657 winning portion. That places nine perpetuity in program history however fifth amongst the 7 USC trainers that trained at the very least as numerous games as Helton did (70 ). His 46 wins rank sixth all time, however second-to-last amongst those instructors that matched his variety of games coached.

In addition, USC went 9-12 versus ranked challengers after he took over full-time in 2016, with 3 of those success coming during the Trojans' 10-win campaign that year. They were also worse versus top-10 challengers, going 3-6; their last such victory was a 30-23 win over No. 10 Utah to open up the 2019 season; the Utes later on ended up 17th in the final AP Top 25 positions.

Helton likewise had problem training versus USC's opponents, going 1-3 versus Notre Dame, 3-3 against Stanford as well as 4-1 against UCLA. He won one Pac-12 football championship and was 1-2 in bowls.

Ultimately, Helton never matched the assumptions that college football at huge had for the USC program. Besides the 2016 period, Helton's Trojans never completed placed the very same or more than they were in the preseason:

Year Preseason Last
2016 20 3
2017 4 12
2018 15 Unranked
2019 Unranked Unranked
2020 17 21
2021 15 -- MORE: USC

, Mike Bohn have to answer Clay Helton concern quicker instead of later

That will change Clay Helton as USC's coach?

In his announcement, Bohn made it clear he wants USC to compete for national championships. Therefore, the program will perform a nationwide look for a train "who will provide on the champion desires most of us share for our football program."

Genuinely, just a few such trainers have the ability to take over-- without making a descending or lateral move-- and measure up to the amazing pressure in Los Angeles. Cincinnati instructor Luke Fickell has achieved wonderful success in the American Athletic Meeting, but would he be willing to leave a program he has developed right into an edge nationwide power and also shows up headed for the Large 12!.?.!? James Franklin also has a tried and tested performance history, yet he has claimed before that Penn State-- a traditional Huge Ten power-- is his desire work. Urban Meyer has actually been linked to the Trojans job in the past, yet he remains in his initial year as head instructor of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.

Beyond those 3, what trains stay? Billy Napier has been linked to high-profile coach openings for several periods, but he has taken his time waiting for the appropriate Power 5 coaching work to open. The dive from Louisiana to USC would be substantial. Other instructors for consideration include, potentially, Oregon offending organizer Joe Moorhead, though he had not been successful in his two-year job as Mississippi State's head coach (he went 14-12).

Former USC trains Steve Sarkisian and also Lane Kiffin, at Texas and also Ole Miss, specifically, will likely not be up for factor to consider.

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