Steve Sarkisian Fired by USC: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

USC Trojans athletic director Pat Haden announced Monday that head football coach Steve Sarkisian has been fired.

Jordan Moore of the Trojans' website passed along Haden's official statement:

"

After careful consideration of what is in the best interest of the university and our student-athletes, I have made the decision to terminate Steve Sarkisian, effective immediately.

I want to thank Clay Helton for stepping into the interim head coach role, and I want to add how proud I am of our coaching staff and players and the way they are responding to this difficult situation.

Through all of this we remain concerned for Steve and hope that it will give him the opportunity to focus on his personal well-being.

"

"Steve Sarkisian is aware of the termination and is deeply disappointed," Cyd Zeigler of SB Nation relayed from "a source close to" Sarkisian. "But right now his No. 1 priority is getting himself well. To that end, he has checked himself into a residential treatment facility. He's grateful for all the support that will help him get through this difficult time."

On Tuesday, Joe Schad of ESPN reported Sarkisian learned he'd been fired from sympathetic texts and emails from texts. Schad added the coach was fired with cause, and would spend at least 30 days in his rehab facility. 

Sarkisian tweeted out a short message on Wednesday: "This is a very difficult time for my family and me. I am facing these challenges the best I can and your support helps immensely. I wish my Trojans the best against Notre Dame and for the remainder of the season. No one will be cheering them on more than me. Fight On!"

Former Trojans coach Pete Carroll said he spoke with Sarkisian the day before he went to the facility, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.

Sarkisian, 41, led the Trojans to a victory in the Holiday Bowl last season, which capped a 9-4 season in his first year at the helm. This year the team was off to a 3-2 start, before Haden implored Sarkisian to take a leave of absence after he allegedly showed up to Sunday's team meetings appearing to be intoxicated, per ESPN.com.

Although the specific nature of Sarkisian's issues hasn't been officially revealed, the Los Angeles Times' Nathan Fenno and Lindsey Thiry compiled a report Monday that outlined his alleged use of alcohol during his previous head coaching stint at Washington.

Following the annual Salute to Troy event in August during which he slurred his words and used an expletive, Sarkisian said he'd taken medication and mixed it with alcohol. ESPN's Joe Schad hinted the termination of Sarkisian's contract may not mark the end of the saga:

Haden said at a Tuesday press conference, per Schad, that Sarkisian violated an agreement they had after his August incident.

The Trojans will carry on with Helton, who has been the offensive coordinator since 2013, as their interim head coach. Helton has also served as the quarterbacks coach, and the offense still has veteran signal-caller Cody Kessler under center.

Next up for USC on the schedule is Notre Dame on the road. The Trojans must regroup, rally around Helton and move forward to avoid slipping to 3-3 in South Bend on Saturday.