Should USC Look to the NFL to Hire Its New Head Football Coach?

If there was ever a time for a clean slate for USC, a chance to acquire a calming and stabilizing presence, now would be it. 

The termination of head coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday has sent the Trojans program into further disarray. Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News was told Sarkisian was "not sober" Sunday, with Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman being told he was in "no condition to work." Not only is it the latest event in a reportedly long list of substance-fueled incidents by Sarkisian, as detailed by Nathan Fenno and Lindsey Thiry of the Los Angeles Times, it adds to the mounting criticism of athletic director Pat Haden. What did he know of Sarkisian's personal life when he hired him, and how did he plan on telling the embattled coach he was fired?

Just as bad, the players are caught in the middle of yet another mismanaged coaching situation. As Matt Hinton of Grantland writes, "some upperclassmen will have played almost as many games in the past three years under interim coaches (17 games under [new interim coach Clay] Helton and Ed Orgeron) as they have under the ostensible full-timers (23 games under [Lane] Kiffin and Sarkisian)." 

Where does USC turn next? Does it stay in the college ranks or look to the pros? USC is a top-flight job in college football, so it could look in both places. To paraphrase the immortal words of Cady Heron, the limits of who the Trojans could draw do not exist.

Looking to the NFL is fine, but there are some things to consider. "This is an inexact science, hiring a high-profile football coach," Haden said, per Dan Weber of Scout.com. "A lot of people get it wrong." 

Despite having the "unwavering support" of university president Max Nikias, however, this isn't a hire Haden can afford to get wrong. 

First and foremost, the timing of Sarkisian's firing wasn't ideal. Candidates, college and pro alike, are in the middle of their seasons. USC might have a list in mind, but no active coach is taking the Trojans job tomorrow.

In the meantime, the best option is to guess which direction the program will go. Dan Wolken of USA Today lists Chip Kelly (Philadelphia Eagles), Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M) and Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) as realistic choices for the job. Add in the likes of Kyle Whittingham (Utah) and Bryan Harsin (Boise State), too. 

But how realistic are some of those choices really? Kelly has complete control over the Eagles and would be relinquishing that to return to the college game (where his previous NCAA show-cause has expired). That control might be costing the organization in the minds of some, but it's not likely to be something Kelly gives up so easily.

Another primary goal for Haden should in no way be to to relive the glory days of the Pete Carroll era by finding yet another branch of his coaching tree. Limiting the search exclusively to NFL coaches with ties to the program, a la Jeff Fisher and Jack Del Rio, is unwise, too. 

This can be a tricky temptation to ignore, though. Fisher, head coach of the St. Louis Rams, and Del Rio, head coach of the Oakland Raiders, have gone hand in hand with USC's past coaching search rumors, similar to Jim Harbaugh with Michigan. The Wolverines finally landed their man this year, and are already reaping the rewards, but that's not an indication USC has to follow the same route. 

Lastly, Haden has to understand the difference between college and the pros. He likely already does. It takes a certain type of coach to succeed in the NFL. We'll find out soon enough if Kelly is that type. Some of the best college coaches—Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier come to mind—didn't succeed at football's highest level. Management styles, specifically when it comes to dealing with personalities, have to be different. 

Conversely, it takes a certain type of coach to thrive in the college setting. Above all, a coach either has to excel in recruiting or have the best recruiting staff in the country. And it's an exhausting exercise. 

When Spurrier retired from South Carolina this week, he noted the strenuous nature of recruiting:

USC may recruit itself, but if Haden looks to the NFL to find its next coach, he has to find someone who has a genuine passion and knack for the recruiting trail.  

The funny thing about coaching searches is that they sometimes end with the person you least expect—the coach not listed among the initial odds. If that holds true with USC, it won't land Kelly, Fisher or Del Rio, and that's OK. Carroll was an NFL leftover when he took the Trojans job in 2000. But he succeeded because he had recruiting chops. 

Haden can't conduct his coaching search as if he's trying to resurrect the Carroll years, but he does need to find someone with similar qualities. If he does, the "name" part will take care of itself. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand.