USC puts Steve Sarkisian on temporary leave; names Clay Helton interim head coach

USC placed head coach Steve Sarkisian on a temporary leave of absence and named offensive coordinator Clay Helton the interim head coach, athletic director Pat Haden announced Sunday.

"It was very clear to me that (Sarkisian) is not healthy," Haden said.

Speculation surrounding Sarkisian's immediate future began when the coach missed Sunday's practice, and Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports reported that Sarkisian arrived at the school in "no condition to work."

Players noticed Sarkisian didn't appear sober at a team meeting Sunday morning, according to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News. Wolf also notes that some USC assistant coaches believed Sarkisian was drunk during the Arizona State game on Sept. 26.

In another bombshell, Wolf reports that Sarkisian drank and passed out on a return flight from a game in 2014, and adds that Sarkisian allegedly drank a bottle of tequila after the Notre Dame game last year.

Earlier this year, Sarkisian was reprimanded for appearing drunk at the "Salute to Troy" booster event, where Haden pulled him off the stage during a speech.

After the incident, Sarkisian said that although he didn't believe he had a drinking problem, he would seek treatment and abstain from alcohol consumption for the rest of the football season.

This marks Helton's second official stint as interim head coach for the Trojans. He led USC into the Las Vegas Bowl in 2013 after Ed Orgeron resigned.

With each USC loss, Sarkisian has faced more scrutiny. The Trojans currently sit at 3-2, while the program is 12-6 overall under Sarkisian.