Steve Sarkisian hired as USC head coach

Steve Sarkisian's Washington team went 8-4 this season, finishing third in the Pac-12 North. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

USC hired Washington head coach Steve Sarkasian to become its next head football coach, the school announced Monday.

RealDawg.com first reported the move earlier in the day after several names, including Boise State head coach Chris Petersen, were linked to the job. Petersen eventually withdrew his name from consideration.

Sarkisian replaces Lane Kiffin, who was fired in September after a blowout loss to Arizona State. USC gave the interim job to assistant Ed Orgeron, who led the Trojans to a 6-2 record down the stretch.

Sarkisian, 39, had spent the last five seasons as the Huskies head coach, compiling a 34-29 record.

Sarkisian has previously worked at USC - first as a quarterbacks coach, then as offensive coordinator until taking the Washington job in 2009.

At Washington, he took over a program that went 0-12 in 2008. The Huskies had three straight 7-6 seasons leading into this season, when Washington finished 8-4. The team's offense ranks eighth in the NCAA, and the Huskies won four of their final five games.

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