Steve Sarkisian is going to delegate a little bit more this season.
Entering his second season as head coach of the Trojans, Sark told reporters Saturday that he will hand the majority of playcalling duties to offensive coordinator Clay Helton.
Clay Helton will assume more of the offensive play-calling responsibilities, so @CoachSark can focus more on head coaching duties, per Sark.
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) August 29, 2015
Even though Helton will have most of the play calling duties, Sark will still have input in key situations.
Sarkisian said he would have input especially on third down and red-zone plays #USC
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) August 29, 2015
The Daily News’ Scott Wolf also says Helton will move down to the sidelines from the booth, while wide receivers coach Tee Martin will move up to the booth
Sarkisian is a former quarterback and has been an offensive coach his entire life. The team averaged 35.8 points per game last season under his watch. He was pretty adamant about calling plays last year, so giving that up is a big deal.
“I have a firm belief in my own capability to execute those duties, as the head coach and the playcaller,” Sarkisian said early last season.
This move has been in the works since the spring, so quarterback Cody Kessler and the offense should be used to the change. Kessler is a Heisman Trophy candidate after throwing for 39 touchdowns and just five interceptions last year. And, no, the timing of this announcement is not some sort of punishment for what Sark did last week.
