(CNN) The USC Trojans football program will be without head coach Steve Sarkisian at least temporarily after he was reportedly asked to take a leave of absence by athletic director Pat Haden.
According to Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times, Haden met with players and asked the coach to go on leave Sunday. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Clay Helton will fill the position in the interim.
This news follows a report from Bryan Fischer of Bleacher Report that stated Haden sent Sarkisian home earlier Sunday.
USC lost to Washington on Thursday night, 17-12, and its high-powered offense failed to generate any momentum throughout the game. The Trojans also lost a shootout to Stanford earlier this season, 41-31.
However, this leave of absence is likely about much more than on-field struggles.
Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News noted Sarkisian is “expected to seek treatment.” Wolf also reported “a USC source called me during practice to say Steve Sarkisian was not in ‘good shape’ this morning.”
photo credit: APSarkisian issued an apology earlier this year after the annual Salute to Troy banquet that was held before the season started.
Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times said Sarkisian was “apparently intoxicated, slurring his words, uttering an expletive and acting so unsteady that he left the stage before his remarks were complete” during that banquet.
USC is 3-2 overall this season and 1-2 in conference play.
