USC Football 2015: Steve Sarkisian takes Indefinite Leave of Absence Clay Helton named interim head coach

UPDATE: STEVE SARKISIAN HAS BEEN TERMINATED.

USC AD Pat Haden announces that Steve Sarkisian will take an "indefinite leave of absence." Clay Helton named interim head coach.

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 11, 2015

The USC Athletic department has announced that Clay Helton will be taking over as interim head coach after Steve Sarkisian allegedly missed practice today and was deemed unfit to coach. USC Athletic Director Pat Haden believed that Sarkisian was not healthy.

Haden found out Sarkisian wasn't at practice an hour and a half ago, called him, and determined he was unfit to coach.

— Daily Trojan Sports (@DT_Sports) October 11, 2015

The tweets and reports are rolling in:

Sarkisian was not at practice today. Haden then called him and said "it was very clear to me that he is not healthy."

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 11, 2015

Haden said he found out about 1 p.m. that Steve Sarkisian wasn't at 12:30 practice. Called him. Became clear to him Sark "is not healthy."

— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) October 11, 2015

Sarkisian had been dealing with a divorce and substance issues, it would appear these things may have caught up to him. The rumor mill is swirling right now about all of the possible reasons why. What we can say for sure is that Interim Head Coach Clay Helton will be taking over and must get this team prepared for a trip to South Bend to take on Notre Dame.

UPDATES:

Haden and Helton spoke with the team after practice. Haden said the players expressed their concern for Sarkisian & their support of Helton.

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) October 11, 2015