USC AD Pat Haden: 'The decision I made didn't work out and I own that'
— -- USC athletic director Pat Haden spoke Tuesday about the decision to fire head coach Steve Sarkisian, calling it "very difficult," while also defending his handling of the situation.
"The decision I made didn't work out and I own that," he said. "I own it."
Haden said that he learned Sunday that Sarkisian was not at practice and, after looking into the matter, "determined that [Sarkisian] was not healthy." He announced that Sarkisian would be placed on an indefinite leave of absence. He said he looked into the situation further over the next 24 hours and, after determining that Sarkisian's "did not meet USC's standards," decided to fire him.
Haden declined to go into specifics about Sarkisian's contract, but said that Sarkisian knew the expectations "and failed to meet them."
A school source told ESPN's Shelley Smith that Haden had instituted what was, in effect, a zero tolerance policy concerning alcohol use with Sarkisian. When Sarkisian showed up to meetings last Sunday seemingly intoxicated, that was a violation of their agreement and resulted in Sarkisian's dismissal.
An employee can't be fired for being sick or having a sickness, the source said, but the guidelines Haden set up for Sarkisian made it clear a similar incident could not happen again, thus making Sarkisian's behavior a fireable offense.
Sarkisian also appeared to be under the influence at a team function in August. He apologized and attributed the incident to a bad mixture of medication and alcohol. He also added at the time that he would be getting unspecified treatment. Because of HIPAA rules, the school cannot talk about the nature of Sarkisian's illness.
Haden said Tuesday that he has not personally spoken to Sarkisian since Sunday. He said he spent a couple of hours trying to reach Sarkisian to inform him of his termination but was unable to do so.
Haden has been the subject of criticism in recent days for his vetting of Sarkisian as a head coaching candidate and also for his handling of Sarkasian's behavior at the August event. Haden defended the decision Tuesday to hire Sarkisian, citing background checks conducted by the university and NCAA and interviews with "dozens" of people including head coaches, staff members and longtime friends of Sarkisian.
"Have we gotten everything right?" Haden said. "Clearly not. ... this happens. And I said I own it."
Haden said he made the decision in August not to suspend or fire Sarkisian based on input from medical professionals that Sarkisian could continue coaching and what was "in the best interests" of the players.
"I felt a great deal of compassion for Steve Sarkisian," Haden said. "He deserved another chance. And that's what I gave him."
Haden also defended his track record as the school's athletic director, stating the school's academic and athletic performance under his watch.
USC president C. L. Max Nikias released a statement shortly before Haden's press conference expressing his support for Haden, calling him "a man of true character and integrity."
"Pat Haden has been doing an outstanding job in leading Trojan Athletics in the past five years and I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my unwavering support for him," Nikias said in the statement. "I look forward to working with Pat Haden as our USC AD for many years to come."
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