USC fires head football coach Clay Helton

LOS ANGELES - USC head football coach Clay Helton was fired Monday, with university Athletic Director Mike Bohn calling him "one of the finest human beings I have met in the industry" but saying he believes the team will have a greater chance of success this season under new leadership.

Bohn posted a full statement about the decision on Twitter.

The firing comes just days after the Trojans suffered a humiliating 42-28 home loss to Stanford. Helton leaves USC with a 46-24 record in seven seasons as Trojans head football coach.  

Who will replace Helton?

It appears USC won't rush to hire a permanent replacement for Helton. Bohn said the Trojans athletic department will "actively and patiently pursue a coach who will deliver on the championship aspirations and expectations we all share for our football program."

However, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy appears to have emerged as one of the candidates for the Trojans head coaching job. Bieniemy, who starred as a running back in football and track at Bishop Amat, is considered one of the masterminds behind the dominant Chiefs offense that took Kansas City to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances (2019 and 2020).

Bieniemy's Chiefs entered the 2021 NFL season as the defending AFC champs and two years removed from winning Super Bowl LIV.

According to USC's athletic page, cornerbacks coach/associate head coach Donte Williams will be the interim head coach. Williams' promotion made him the first Black head football coach in Trojans' program history.

Donte Williams: What we know about USC's interim head football coach

USC will enter Saturday, September 18 showdown against Washington State with a 1-1 record.

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