This fellow is just as duplicitous as the guy who was recently fired. Add that to the fact that he operated a Husky program with far better talent than its records reflected, and all you have left is a guy who happened to be at 'SC while there was a great run of success. That's all. He just happened to be at a successful place at the right time.
As a Duck, I am comforted by this hiring choice, especially since the University of Southern California has the juice to hire from any program across the nation.
I agree that Pat Haden has made a huge blunder. Has anyone even stopped to realize that "Sark" recruited almost every present Trojan while he was at UW, and each and every one of them rejected him? Do you think he might just be facing an uphill battle as he tries to convince them he is legitimate?
Fight On! but, the fight would have been a better one with a more credible hire.
coach J - 10 years ago
USC is a top 5 University. They should have hired an overachiever not someone who has been mediocre. I hope Haden's career is at stake with this hire. In his defense, there are very few AD's that understand what to look for when hiring a winning coach. Haden is hoping that lightning will strike twice with one of Pete's assistants. Fight On!!
em Gee - 10 years ago
I was hoping SC would hire a Petersen, i.e., someone out there with a strong established record from a lower level D1 school. Instead, they hire a safe choice, i.e., someone with SC ties.
Bart Lewis - 10 years ago
Pat Haden's shallow decision making went with a pretty boy with a mediocre track record over a true down-to-earth coach who instilled pride and the will to win in the college athletes. What Coach "O" did with the remnants of Kiffin's rein was truly remarkable. Rather than show appreciation, Haden kinked him in rear. Not classy Pat Haden - not at all.
Richard Saunders - 10 years ago
This selection shows Pat Haden needs to go. He cannot get a major decision right. Take a look at his track record: 1) He failed when he did not sue the NCAA over the sanctions over the Reggie Bush issue. Since then, other programs with true violations have gotten off with a slap on the wrist as they pursued a much more aggressive track with the NCAA. 2) He failed in his hire for basketball. 3) He failed in his hire for baseball. 4) He failed in the timing of the Kiffen firing -- with no successor lined up. 5) He failed in this hiring in multiple ways: timing; impact on Ogeron; impact on players; the manner in which the announcement was handled; and the selection itself. Sarkisian does not stand in the same class as great coaches out there. What has been his legacy at Washington? Mediocrity not excellence, inconsistency not execution. Athletics at USC have been in a tailspin since before Pete Carroll left, a tailspin Haden has been an able to arrest. Time for Pat to go back to Notre Dame TV color commentary.
bill egan - 10 years ago
Wow, can USC get anymore retro? Get with the new century, with an innovative coach that does some really progressive things- look at the best offenses and defenses at the college level, and then look at UW.
USC suddenly stands for Unbelievably Stupid Choice.
J H - 10 years ago
Coach O was a great care-taker (like a favorite uncle) but not a great HC. Sark has USC pedigree, and HC experience, and a school that he turned around (Washington 0-12 the year before Sark arrived).
Art Dean - 10 years ago
If Mora ends of jumping to Washington, then Haden is going to look like a bona fide genius...a twofer! The Seattle Times is reporting that Mora will be in Seattle tomorrow for an event with his charity and that he is meeting with Washington's AD this evening.
John Skillman - 10 years ago
Sarks record for 5 years at Washington is average. There are others who are equally qualified.
He may cause skilled juniors to declare for draft. We will lose scholarships. Coach O deserved at least a one
year contract and complete the NCAA sanctions fiasco. Sark is bringing assistant coaches that will remove all the existing coaches. We will probably lose the bowl game
gray blacks - 10 years ago
rephrase the question to: 'did USC make the best choice?' to which the obvious answer is 'only time will tell'; but yes, Haden made the best choice available to him i.e. his first 4 choices declined.
cecil burns - 10 years ago
He was a hardly stellar 34-29 at UW, and even more troublesome, they NEVER had a very good defense under two different D coordinators, and most especially against spread offenses. Sound like USC under the two Kiffins? Quite evidently Haden subscribes to the prior playbook of Garrett, insanely believing that yet another ex- USC asst. can bring back the so-called 'glory years' under Carroll. And make no doubt about it- with Oregeron's departure this will cost them dearly in the recruiting area, as it did when hapless Haden misearbly failed to fire 'Lame' Kiffin afte the 2012 season. Look for USC, like last year, to 'lay down' in the forthcoming bowl game.
Dear Troy:
This fellow is just as duplicitous as the guy who was recently fired. Add that to the fact that he operated a Husky program with far better talent than its records reflected, and all you have left is a guy who happened to be at 'SC while there was a great run of success. That's all. He just happened to be at a successful place at the right time.
As a Duck, I am comforted by this hiring choice, especially since the University of Southern California has the juice to hire from any program across the nation.
I agree that Pat Haden has made a huge blunder. Has anyone even stopped to realize that "Sark" recruited almost every present Trojan while he was at UW, and each and every one of them rejected him? Do you think he might just be facing an uphill battle as he tries to convince them he is legitimate?
Fight On! but, the fight would have been a better one with a more credible hire.
USC is a top 5 University. They should have hired an overachiever not someone who has been mediocre. I hope Haden's career is at stake with this hire. In his defense, there are very few AD's that understand what to look for when hiring a winning coach. Haden is hoping that lightning will strike twice with one of Pete's assistants. Fight On!!
I was hoping SC would hire a Petersen, i.e., someone out there with a strong established record from a lower level D1 school. Instead, they hire a safe choice, i.e., someone with SC ties.
Pat Haden's shallow decision making went with a pretty boy with a mediocre track record over a true down-to-earth coach who instilled pride and the will to win in the college athletes. What Coach "O" did with the remnants of Kiffin's rein was truly remarkable. Rather than show appreciation, Haden kinked him in rear. Not classy Pat Haden - not at all.
This selection shows Pat Haden needs to go. He cannot get a major decision right. Take a look at his track record: 1) He failed when he did not sue the NCAA over the sanctions over the Reggie Bush issue. Since then, other programs with true violations have gotten off with a slap on the wrist as they pursued a much more aggressive track with the NCAA. 2) He failed in his hire for basketball. 3) He failed in his hire for baseball. 4) He failed in the timing of the Kiffen firing -- with no successor lined up. 5) He failed in this hiring in multiple ways: timing; impact on Ogeron; impact on players; the manner in which the announcement was handled; and the selection itself. Sarkisian does not stand in the same class as great coaches out there. What has been his legacy at Washington? Mediocrity not excellence, inconsistency not execution. Athletics at USC have been in a tailspin since before Pete Carroll left, a tailspin Haden has been an able to arrest. Time for Pat to go back to Notre Dame TV color commentary.
Wow, can USC get anymore retro? Get with the new century, with an innovative coach that does some really progressive things- look at the best offenses and defenses at the college level, and then look at UW.
USC suddenly stands for Unbelievably Stupid Choice.
Coach O was a great care-taker (like a favorite uncle) but not a great HC. Sark has USC pedigree, and HC experience, and a school that he turned around (Washington 0-12 the year before Sark arrived).
If Mora ends of jumping to Washington, then Haden is going to look like a bona fide genius...a twofer! The Seattle Times is reporting that Mora will be in Seattle tomorrow for an event with his charity and that he is meeting with Washington's AD this evening.
Sarks record for 5 years at Washington is average. There are others who are equally qualified.
He may cause skilled juniors to declare for draft. We will lose scholarships. Coach O deserved at least a one
year contract and complete the NCAA sanctions fiasco. Sark is bringing assistant coaches that will remove all the existing coaches. We will probably lose the bowl game
rephrase the question to: 'did USC make the best choice?' to which the obvious answer is 'only time will tell'; but yes, Haden made the best choice available to him i.e. his first 4 choices declined.
He was a hardly stellar 34-29 at UW, and even more troublesome, they NEVER had a very good defense under two different D coordinators, and most especially against spread offenses. Sound like USC under the two Kiffins? Quite evidently Haden subscribes to the prior playbook of Garrett, insanely believing that yet another ex- USC asst. can bring back the so-called 'glory years' under Carroll. And make no doubt about it- with Oregeron's departure this will cost them dearly in the recruiting area, as it did when hapless Haden misearbly failed to fire 'Lame' Kiffin afte the 2012 season. Look for USC, like last year, to 'lay down' in the forthcoming bowl game.