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Pressure Squarely On USC's Pat Haden After Firing Of Football Coach Steve Sarkisian

USC yesterday dismissed football coach Steve Sarkisian after initially putting him on leave, and now the "pressure is on" AD Pat Haden, who has been "criticized for not fully vetting Sarkisian before hiring him two years ago and for not taking more decisive action when the coach's behavior began to erode," according to a front-page piece by Klein & Wharton of the L.A. TIMES. Haden, whose own job "could be in jeopardy, will be searching for a brand-name coach for the university's signature sports program." The terms of Sarkisian's dismissal were not immediately clear, though a source said that USC coaches "have a morals clause in their contracts." Sarkisian was "believed to rank among the highest-paid coaches" in the Pac-12, earning at least $3.4M a year in total compensation (L.A. TIMES, 10/13). YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote Haden is a "beloved figure for his days as a USC player and his achievements" as a broadcaster and businessman. He is an "impressive guy," and he will need "every bit of it to convince the school he should be around to make the next coaching hire." The fact that Sarkisian's "troubling alcohol problem either didn’t come up or wasn’t considered an issue lands squarely on the AD's desk" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/12). ESPN's Michael Wilbon noted Haden is an "icon" at USC, but he wondered, "Where does Pat Haden go from here, and do you have to fire him?” ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser said Haden “is a fine person,” but what "he’s done with the athletic department, at the moment, doesn’t indicate confidence in him” (“PTI,” ESPN, 10/12).

TRUST ISSUES?
In California, Jeff Miller writes Haden "botched the firing" of Sarkisian "almost as much as -- we all know today -- he botched Sarkisian’s hiring." With another "major head coaching decision coming in a future now approaching sooner than later, how can anyone trust Haden to make the right choice this time?" Miller: "Especially when Haden admits he doesn’t even know how much longer he wants to be USC’s AD and will publicly commit only through this year?" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/13). ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said of Haden, "By all accounts, he seems to be a very good man. But the dereliction of duty that he exercised in vetting Steve Sarkisian before hiring him is at the very least egregious. ... Pat Haden should have nothing to do with the next head coach hired" ("First Take," ESPN2, 10/13). ESPN.com's Ted Miller wrote the blame for hiring Sarkisian and "bringing in a coach who would duplicate" former coach Lane Kiffin's midseason firing "in just his second year falls on Haden." If Haden "has his fingers on the pulse of USC, he probably knows he shouldn't be in charge of the selection of the Trojans' next football coach." His decision to hire Sarkisian "should, in a moment of harsh but clear-thinking self-evaluation, make him see he's not the best one for that job" (ESPN.com, 10/12). ESPN's Bomani Jones said, "Name one thing he's done since he got there that was actually right" ("Highly Questionable," ESPN2, 10/12). SI.com's Michael Rosenberg wrote Haden "did not help Sarkisian in August" when Sarkasian showed up intoxicated for a booster event, and Haden "owes people some kind of explanation for what happened between Sunday, when he said his head coach was 'sick,' and Monday, when he fired him." Rosenberg: "Right now, it looks like Haden said what he thought sounded good Sunday, then decided Monday that it wasn't good enough" (SI.com, 10/12).

SEAT GETTING WARMER? Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman noted that there is a "chance" Haden could be out and someone else could make the next football coaching hire. However, he cited sources as saying that USC President Max Nikias "holds Pat Haden in such a high level of regard" that firing him is unlikely (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 10/12). But in L.A., Vincent Bonsignore in a front-page piece writes under the header, "Now That USC Has Fired Sarkisian, Haden Should Be Next To Go." It is "clear it might be time for USC to look beyond firing Sarkisian," and perhaps an "even bigger housecleaning is due." That "starts with Haden." At best, Haden is "either the classic enabler or too naive to recognize when someone is in serious need of help or steering clear of." At worst, Haden "either knew about Sarkisian’s problems and chose not to deal with them or isn’t on top of his job the way a big-time athletic director should be" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/13). In California, Shad Powers writes under the header, "USC AD Pat Haden Failed Steve Sarkisian, Team." Powers: "Why did it take this long for Haden or anyone in Sarkisian’s sphere to acknowledge the problem? ... With all of this smoke, I find it hard to believe that Haden could be caught off guard by the current fire" (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 10/13). FS1's Petros Papadakis, who played at USC, said Haden has "zero value" as an AD. Papadakis: "What can his value be after this? This is incredibly embarrassing for USC" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/13). 

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