USC's Sarkisian Has History of Alcohol Use

Once a golden boy in college football for his prowess as offensive coordinator on the USC sideline, Steve Sarkisian became head coach at Washington. After five seasons, he returned to Los Angeles to take his dream job at USC.

That dream appears to be shattered.

Less than two years after taking the job and four days after an embarrassing 17-12 loss to Washington at Memorial Coliseum, Sarkisian on Sunday was placed on indefinite leave by USC, apparently so he could get help with some level of alcohol abuse.

Reports are emerging that Sarkisian and alcohol were never far from each other at events or on various trips.

The coaching decision was made by Pat Haden, the USC athletic director. He named offensive coordinator Clay Helton, who coached USC to victory in the 2013 Las Vegas Bowl, as the interim coach in Sarkisian’s absence.

Sarkisian is 12-6 at USC, and 3-2 this season, 2-1 in the Pac-12 Conference. Sarkisian was 34-29 at Washington a program that was 0-12 the season before his arrival.

Haden addressed the media briefly on Sunday when Sarkisian didn’t show up to practice.

“It was very clear to me he was not healthy,” Haden said of a telephone conversation he had with Sarkisian. “I asked him to take an indefinite leave of absence. … I think it’s the right thing to do for our team.”

ESPN reported that an unidentified player texted a reporter Sunday that Sarkisian “showed up lit to meetings again today.”

In August before USC’s first game, Sarkisian, 41, appeared at a pep rally for the team and major donors in which he slurred his words, insulted opponents and used profanity.

He apologized later, saying “the way I acted was irresponsible and something I don’t condone. It’s a hard time.” He also said he didn’t know if he had a drinking problem: “I don’t believe so, but I’m going to find out. I’m going to treatment.”

He blamed his actions on inadvertently mixing alcohol with medication and it was unclear if he ever sought treatment. However, former players at Washington responded in social media that it was essentially Sark being Sark; one added the hashtag, #ThingsHaven’tChanged to a Twitter post.

Sarkisian was on the USC coaching staff for seven seasons prior to coaching Washington for five, from 2009-13. He was hired in December 2013, and Haden said a thorough vetting of the coach was performed.

However, after the August outburst, USC turned down several requests by the Los Angeles Times to interview Sarkisian about his alcohol use while at Washington. The Times’ report released Monday painted a picture of a man who enjoyed a drink no matter the time, who favored Patron Silver tequila and Coors Light, and whose drinking became a running joke among some players at Washington.

One receipt cited by The Times was an expense of $1,023 worth of alcohol at an Indian Wells restaurant during a Washington retreat, though it was unclear how many were in attendance. Sarkisian also had a one-day beverage tab at a Los Angeles hotel of $170.47.

On another occasion, in 1993 at a Nashville restaurant, Sarkisian and three assistants ordered four shot shots of tequila, four of another type of alcohol, and five beers before paying the tab a few minutes before noon.

ESPN reported that Sarkisian is going through a divorce, and that it was suspected by staff that Sark was under the influence during USC’s 42-14 win over Arizona State, though Haden was not aware.

Haden spoke to USC players and coaches “and it’s clear the team had a great deal of concern about the health of Coach Sarkisian, so did the staff have that concern for him. It was also very apparent to me in the room of the support that Clay has from our team and his staff.”

This is not a story that will go away any time soon. This week, USC plays at Norte Dame in what is annually one of the most high-profile games on the national schedule.

-Martin Henderson