USC head coach Clay Helton has fired Trojans defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox following a loss in the Pac-12 Championship game to Stanford, 41-22, according to ESPN's Kyle Bonagura. Helton said that he had fired Wilcox, defensive line coach Chris Wilson, defensive backs coach Keith Heyward and offensive line coach Bob Connelly, according to Bonagura.
USC athletic director Pat Haden announced that Helton had signed a multi-year contract as the Trojans official head coach prior to the Pac-12 title game. The university fired head coach Steve Sarkisian after a 3-2 start, and Helton has led the Trojans to a 5-3 record as their head coach.
The Trojans' defense has struggled at times this year, and giving up 41 points to Stanford's offense likely played a major factor in Helton's decision. The four coaches fired will not remain with the program for the Holiday Bowl against Wisconsin on Dec. 30, according to Bonagura.
"With the coaches we have on staff and with our graduate assistants, we feel more than confident in doing a great job with this bowl game," said Helton, via ESPN. Helton chose to keep the four remaining assistants in receivers coach Tee Martin, running backs and special teams coordinator Jonny Nansen, quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo, and linebackers and recruiting coordinator Peter Sirmon. Both Martin and Helton were originally hired by Lane Kiffin prior to Sarkisian, and Martin is the heavy favorite to become the Trojan's offensive coordinator in 2016, according to Bonagura.
Helton said the firings were entirely his decision, and that Trojans athletic director, Haden, is letting him run the football team with his own vision, via ESPN. There has been no time frame given as to when to expect USC to make any hirings, but Helton will look to bring in a strong defensive coordinator that can help bring the Trojans back to greatness.
