After finishing 5-7, Helton to remain at Southern Cal
AD Swann: Program’s first losing season since 2000 ‘doesn’t define a coach’
Clay Helton will remain as Southern California coach after the program’s first losing season since 2000.
Athletic director Lynn Swann made the announcement one day after the Trojans finished 5-7 with a loss to Notre Dame. The Trojans lost five of their final six, capped by back-to-back losses to archrivals UCLA and Notre Dame.
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with Helton among Southern Cal boosters and fans, Swann is keeping the coach to whom nine months ago he awarded a contract extension through 2023.
“I am a strong advocate of consistency within a program, sticking by a leader, supporting them and helping them and their team improve,” Swann said in a statement. “One season does not define a coach.”
Helton is 32-17 in his first head coaching job, which began midway through the 2015 season. His Trojans won the Rose Bowl two years ago to cap a ninegame winning streak, and they won the Pac-12 title last season.
One day after a 35-24 loss to Baylor prevented the Red Raiders from becoming bowl eligible, Kliff Kingsbury was fired. A former record-setting quarterback at the school, Kingsbury was 35-40 in six seasons, including 5-7 this season after a 5-2 start. Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said the decision was not based on one game, the Baylor loss, but “was made based on a three-year pattern, a threeyear pattern of inconsistency.” Texas Tech was 19-35 in the Big 12 under Kingsbury, including 3-6 in the conference each of the past three seasons. The Red Raiders have gone nine consecutive seasons without a winning record in Big 12 play.
Larry Fedora, who guided North Carolina to the ACC Championship game in 2015, has been fired after a two-year downturn. Fedora, who overcame years of NCAA trouble at the school, was 45-43 in seven season, including 2-9 this season. The firing came a day after an overtime loss to rival North Carolina State that ended with a brawl between the teams in the end zone after the Wolfpack scored the winning touchdown. Fedora’s exit completes a swift fall. UNC matched a program record with 11 wins and a trip to the ACC championship game in 2015. UNC slipped to 8-5 the next season and then went 5-18 over
Texas Tech fires Kingsbury: Fedora fired by North Carolina:
the past two seasons marred by injuries, inexperienced players and close losses.
Western Kentucky has fired second-year coach Mike Sanford following a
3-9 finish, the Hilltoppers’ first losing season since 2010. Athletic director Todd Stewart said it was time to change leadership. Sanford, 36, a former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and assistant at Stanford and Boise State, replaced Jeff Brohm, who left for Purdue after the 2016 season. Sanford guided Western Kentucky to a 6-7 finish and the Cure Bowl last season.
Western Kentucky fires Sanford: 6: Illinois extends Smith:
Illinois has extended the contract of coach Lovie Smith for two years through 2023 after the team finished his third season at 4-8. Smith, who led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XLI, is 9-27 in three seasons, including 4-23 in the Big Ten. Smith’s original deal was for six years and $21 million.
Ohio State moved up to No. 6 in The Associated Press college football poll after trouncing rival Michigan. The Buckeyes jumped four spots and the Wolverines fell four to No. 8. Going into next week, when each FBS
Buckeyes climb to No.