Carroll to Seattle is Done Deal

Carroll takes another whack at it in the NFL

Pete Carroll, the most successful coach in the University of Southern California history, has patrolled the Trojan's sideline for the last time, as he will leave college football to take another try at the NFL, according to ESPN.

Carroll is said to have reached an agreement with the Seahawks to be their next head coach and president, and is expected to be announced as early as Monday. Multiple sources say the deal for Carroll is for five years $35 million, but it won't be finalized until after the weekend.

Seattle must first comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires an NFL organization to interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a head coach, but sources told ESPN that the deal with Carroll is "100 percent done" and any interview is just a formality.

Carroll has not commented on the reports and is not likely to do so until a contract has been signed.

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett said he won't be caught off-guard as he "keeps a list of potential replacements for head coaches in every sport USC competes in, including football."

At the top of Garrett's list is believed to be Mike Riley, head coach of Oregon State, or Norm Chow, offensive coordinator of UCLA. Both men have strong ties to the USC program as both served as offensive coordinators for the Trojans -- Riley in 1991-1992, and Chow from 2001-2004.

There is a strong possibility that the next USC head coach will have to deal with sanctions given to USC by the NCAA. The NCAA is near finished with its investigations into violations dealing with Reggie Bush and Joe McKnight.

The early exodus to the NFL draft by players McKnight and Damian Williams, coupled with Carroll leaving, could indicate harsh sanctions are around the corner for USC; and with the sanctions the possible fall of Troy, according to The Wiz of Odds. However, Garrett told ESPN that he believes otherwise.

"I don't think SC falls down. We're too good. We do things well," Garrett said. "We've had a great history, 11 national championships, we've produced a lot of excellent student-athletes and I don't think that will stop."

Some believe that the NCAA sanctions are the sole reason why Carroll is heading to the NFL, but the LA Daily News reports that there were other reasons for the move including a "clash" between Carroll and Garrett in recent years with a "noticeable tension in their relationship."

The questions continue to swirl around the USC program: How harsh will the sanctions be? Will USC lose their National Championships? Will Bush lose his Heisman Trophy? Will Matt Barkley transfer if USC is put on bowl probation? Will Garrett be looking for a new job soon? However, one question that has been answered is, "Will Carroll be the coach at USC next year?" The answer: No.

Contact Us