Click here for linkSteve Sarkisian, a former USC assistant who has been head coach at Washington for the last five seasons, was hired as the Trojans' head coach.
Sarkisian, 39, replaces Ed Orgeron, who guided USC to a 6-2 record as interim coach after replacing the fired Lane Kiffin.
"It's awesome to be home," Sarkisian said after meeting with the team Monday night. "It's been an emotional day or so for the players here, for myself and for my former team and those kids up in Seattle.
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USC Athletic Director Pat Haden said in a statement that the school "conducted a very exhaustive and thorough search," identifying 20 candidates and interviewing five. Haden said Sarkisian, who worked under Pete Carroll for seven seasons, was the only man who was offered the job.
"We kept coming back to Sark," Haden said, adding, "I believe in my gut that he is the right coach for USC at this time."
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Orgeron, 52, had hoped to land the position despite losses to rivals Notre Dame and UCLA. But when USC hired Sarkisian, Orgeron left "to pursue head coaching opportunities," the school said.
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Orgeron cried during an emotional meeting with players at the McKay Center in the afternoon.
"I've known Coach O since I was four years old and I've never seen Coach O cry before," said senior offensive lineman Kevin Graf, whose brother, Derek, and father, Allan, played at USC.
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