New USC head coach Steve Sarkisian wants the Trojans' former interim coach, Ed Orgeron, on his staff. And in a radio interview with ESPNLA 710, Sarkisian indicated his next run at Orgeron won't be his first.
Orgeron felt spurned after he led the Trojans to bowl eligibility on an interim basis, only to be passed on for the permanent head-coaching position. Director of Athletics Pat Haden ultimately replaced Lane Kiffin with Sarkisian, with Clay Helton replacing Orgeron, who resigned after Sarkisian was hired, as interim coach to finish the season.
"I am going to pursue Ed here one more time. 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," Sarkisian said. "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."
Orgeron is recognized as one of the nation's top recruiters, and helped Kiffin bring in some top-shelf talent as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Sarkisian had Tosh Lupoi in the very same roles at Washington, but an investigation into potential NCAA violations by Lupoi has clouded his future with the Trojans.
"I think this potential allegation could affect not only Tosh's future at USC but moving forward anywhere," Sarkisian told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
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