Steve Sarkisian Sues USC Over Firing, Demands At Least $12.6 million

Former University of Southern California Trojans Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has filed a lawsuit against the university, and claimed wrongful termination on Monday. Sarkisian purports the school owes him at the very least $12.6 million following his termination on Oct. 12 due to erratic behavior at a team meeting the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

Sarkisian made national headlines in the wake of this incident, which occurred the night of the Trojans’ 17-12 loss to the Washington Huskies, the team he used to coach for. The coach alleges the defeat intensified his anxiety and depression, and thus his alcohol dependency went up.

Sarkisian, 41, claims USC breached his contract, discriminated against his supposed disability (reported as alcoholism, not anxiety or depression), and invaded his privacy.

The head coach reportedly called athletic director Pat Haden to explain that he would be seeking treatment for alcoholism following the Washington loss. After repeatedly calling the situation “unbelievable,” Haden called Sarkisian back and put him on indefinite leave.

The following day, Sarkisian was sent to rehab and received an email that same day notifying him of his termination. USC released a statement on Monday night that labeled the lawsuit as “patently untrue.” More specifically, the statement read: “While the university does not as a matter of practice comment on personnel matters or litigation, the record will show that Mr. Sarkisian repeatedly denied to university officials that he had a problem with alcohol, never asked for time off to get help, and resisted university efforts to provide him with help.”

Sarkisian had previously been the subject of discussion after he appeared drunk and cursed during a speech at USC’s annual “Salute to Troy” event back in August. He used mixing prescription drugs and drinking a small amount of alcohol. As a result of this, he was reprimanded by Haden, forced to meet weekly with a USC therapist, apologize and do up-downs in front of his team. Sarkisian is also seeking punitive damages from USC following his divorce from his wife, Stephanie, earlier this year, and due to the stress of coaching a major college sports program.

The suit also claims that Sarkisian has completed an “intensive rehabilitation program, is sober and ready to return coaching.” However, USC didn’t back down from defending itself on Monday.

Sarkisian went 35-29 with the Huskies from 2009-2013, until he took the USC job before UW’s bowl game in his final season in Seattle. He lasted less than two seasons at USC, where he compiled a 12-6 record.

PHOTO: TEMPE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Southern California Trojans watches warm ups prior to a game against the Arizona State University Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)