Steve Sarkisian is the USC Trojans’ offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, quarterbacks coach and – from all indications – the next head coach of the Washington Huskies.
ESPN broke the news Thursday night that Sarkisian had been selected to succeed Tyrone Willingham once the UW season ends Saturday at California.
Locally, several sources said or implied that the report is correct. However, there was no official public confirmation.
“I have been consistent with you the whole time, telling you that when we have an announcement to make, we’re going to make that announcement,” UW athletic director Scott Woodward said. “And we do not have an announcement.”
Sarkisian went a little further while talking to reporters in Los Angeles.
“I have interviewed with Washington,” he said. “They’ve interviewed a lot of people. I’m one of a number of candidates, which I’m honored to be. Nothing is finalized in any way, shape or form. There’s been some communication. Nothing has been put in writing. … I have not been offered the job. The interview went well, learning about each other. ”
However, all indications were that Sarkisian is the guy, and that the official announcement will come soon after the two schools end the regular season this weekend, perhaps as early as Sunday.
Sarkisian is 34 years old – born March 8, 1974. He has a wife, Stephanie, and three young children. He grew up in West Torrance, Calif., and went on to attend Brigham Young University, where he quarterbacked from 1995 to 1996 under Norm Chow. He played the next three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League before getting into coaching.
He got his coaching start at El Camino (Calif.) Junior College, before moving to USC for three seasons. He became quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders during the 2004 season before returning to USC in 2005 as quarterbacks coach. Pete Carroll elevated him to offensive coordinator and gave him the play-calling duties in 2006.
“They’d be lucky to get him,” Carroll said last month, when Sarkisian’s name was first mentioned in connection with the Washington job. “Whenever you have a chance to hire a guy that brings a major aspect of the team like the offense, that’s huge, because you know what you’re getting.”
This season, USC is averaging 32.6 points per game, which ranks second in the Pacific-10 Conference and 34th among the 119 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. The Trojans rank third in the league and 29th nationally in total offense, averaging 434.9 yards per game (237.7 passing, 197.2 rushing).
At USC, he has worked with USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, both Heisman Trophy winners, and John David Booty. In his season as Raiders quarterbacks coach, Oakland passers threw for more than 4,000 yards and the team ranked eighth in the NFL in passing.
Two seasons ago, Sarkisian turned down an opportunity to become head coach of the Raiders, saying that he wanted to become a college head coach.
When the Washington job came open last month, he called it “one of the premier jobs not only in the Pac-10, but in the country.”
Reports that the job was his climaxed a day when he seemed to move to the top of the remaining names on Washington’s rapidly dwindling list of potential candidates.
Thursday morning brought the announcement that Fresno State’s Pat Hill had withdrawn from consideration, and the afternoon brought similar reports regarding Texas Tech coach Mike Leach.
It was unclear if they dropped out because they had been told that the job was Sarkisian’s or if the job was offered only after Leach dropped out.
“I wouldn’t accept it before our game Saturday,” Sarkisian told Los Angeles reporters on Thursday. “The focus is on the game Saturday. Pete (Carroll) understands the situation and is on the same page.”
The Trojans end their regular season Saturday against rival UCLA.
On the same day, the Huskies will play at California in what will be Willingham’s final game as head coach.
The Huskies have lost 13 straight games – the longest streak in the Bowl Subdivision. They are 0-11 this season and 11-36 in four seasons under Willingham. They haven’t had a winning season or been to a bowl game since 2002.
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808
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The Sarkisian file
Who: Steve Sarkisian, 34 (born March 8, 1974)
What: 27th head football coach of Washington Huskies
When: Announcement to come, possibly as soon as Sunday
About Sarkisian: He is finishing his fourth season as assistant head coach of the USC Trojans. He has also coached QBs each season, adding offensive coordinator to his duties in 2007.
Coached QBs for Oakland Raiders in 2004.
Offensive assistant at USC (2001-03).
Played quarterback at El Camino Junior College (1993-94) and Brigham Young University (1995-96).
Started in college athletics as a shortstop for USC Trojans (1992).
Family: Wife Stephanie, two daughters and a son.
Arnold Lytle, The News Tribune
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