If you are just waking up, Lane Kiffin fired early this morning after Pat Haden pulled him off bus at LAX private terminal #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
USC administrators, including athletic director Pat Haden, apparently could not wait to fire head coach Lane Kiffin after the Trojans’ embarrassing 62-41 loss at ASU last night.
According to Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News, Kiffin reportedly was fired early this morning after being pulled from the team bus in the parking lot at the LAX Airport. Also according to Wolf, the decision was made to fire Kiffin in the third quarter.
Arizona fired its previous two head coaches — John Mackovic and Mike Stoops — in midseason. The Wildcats went 1-6 under interim coach Mike Hankwitz in 2003 and 3-3 under interim coach Tim Kish in 2011.
USC has not named an interim replacement for Kiffin, although defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, a UA alum with an extensive coaching background in the NFL, is a strong possibility.
The Trojans have lost seven of their past 11 games. USC is 3-2 this year, losing both of its Pac-12 games. Kiffin’s overall record in four years at USC was 28-15.
Haden will hold a press conference at USC on Sunday afternoon at a time and place to be announced.
Wolf’s Tweets are very interesting. Here are a couple:
An eyewitness tells me Lane Kiffin "never saw it coming" when pulled off bus to be fired. Thought ordinary matter to be discussed #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
Lane Kiffin pulled of team bus at LAX and fired this early this morning. Decision made in 3rd Q of loss to ASU, during 28-0 run #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) September 29, 2013
