The University of Southern California fired football coach Steve Sarkisian Monday, one day after he reportedly showed up to practice intoxicated, the school announced.
Sarkisian's behavior had been on USC's radar since August, when he slurred his words and added an expletive to the team's fight song at a pre-season event. A Los Angeles Times report described Sarkisian's alcohol use as extending far beyond his most recent stint at USC, according to former players and staff at the University of Washington, where he last coached, as well as 800 pages of documents the paper obtained.
"Through all of this we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well being," athletic director Pat Haden said in a statement.
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Haden had placed Sarkisian on a leave of absence Sunday. Clay Helton, the Trojans' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will take over as interim head coach of the 3-2 squad.
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