As expected, the initial phase of Steve Sarkisian‘s staff building at USC has a Great Northwest flavor to it.
The Trojans announced Friday that Sarkisian, hired last Monday, has plucked three assistants from his now-former Washington staff: Johnny Nansen, Keith Heyward and Peter Sirmon. Specific titles and job responsibilities will not be announced until Sarkisian has completed his staff, although the three served as running backs coach/special teams coordinator, secondary coach and linebackers coach, respectively, with the Huskies.
“I’m fired up to have Johnny, Keith and Peter join the staff,” said Sarkisian in a statement. “We’re on the right path in putting together one of the best coaching staffs in America.”
Sarkisian also announced that Trojans wide receivers coach Tee Martin would be a part of his initial staff as well.
It’s believed Sarkisian’s defensive coordinator with the Huskies, Justin Wilcox, will interview for the head coach vacancy at Boise State, an opening created by Chris Petersen‘s departure to replace Sarkisian at UW. Sarkisian would like to bring Wilcox with him to Los Angeles.
The Seattle Times reported Friday that the buyouts for Sarkisian and the three assistants breaking their UW contracts total in excess of $1.5 million. Wilcox’s departure for USC would push that number to over $2 million.
Petersen’s Boise State buyout was $750,000.