Steve Sarkisian will pursue Ed Orgeron for his staff at USC
Ed Orgeron resigned on Dec. 2 after USC hired Steve Sarkisian. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Steve Sarkisian said he will reach out to Ed Orgeron, who went 6-2 as USC's interim head coach this season, to ask him to be part of his staff at Southern Cal next year, the new coach told the "Trojan Brunch" show on ESPNLA 710 on Sunday.
"I am going to pursue Ed here one more time," said Sarkisian. "I thought about him again after the game on the ride home. I think when emotions get settled down, and I know that was an emotional time for Ed and not getting named the head coach when he thought he should have been deservedly so, I would have felt the same way. When the emotions settle down, Ed's a great Trojan and he's meant a lot to the Trojan family and if we can have that opportunity for him to be part of this football program and be here with us, we'd love to have him."
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Sarkisian also said Clay Helton, who served as USC's coach in its bowl game, has committed to be part of his staff next year.
Orgeron, who was 10-25 in three seasons as head coach at Ole Miss, resigned after USC hired Sarkisian on Dec. 2. After the Trojans started 3-2, they fired Lane Kiffin, and Orgeron led them to wins in six of their next seven games.
Sarkisian has even more incentive to pursue Orgeron after news surfaced this week about Tosh Lupoi, his defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator, being investigated for potential rules violations.
Orgeron was USC's defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator before he became interim head coach. It is believed those are the roles Sarkisian would like him to fill, as Lupoi is likely no longer in USC's plans.
"I learned of the allegations this past Friday and I was obviously surprised by them," Sarkisian told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I think this potential allegation could affect not only Tosh's future at USC but moving forward anywhere."
