Former USC head coach to take over Georgia Southern football program

STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) - The next head coach of the Georgia Southern football program will be making his way across the country.

Former University of Southern California head coach Clay Helton will be the next head coach of the Eagles.

The 49-year-old Helton led USC to a Rose Bowl title following the 2016 season and won the Pac-12 championship in 2017. He went 46-24 (.657) as the head coach of the Trojans.

“I am very humbled to be named the head football coach at Georgia Southern University,” Helton said in a statement. “Thank you to President Marrero, Athletic Director Jared Benko, the search committee and the entire Georgia Southern family for this amazing opportunity. This football program represents a tradition of excellence spread over the past 40 years but has won six national championships and three bowl games in that short amount of time. The passion and love its alumni and fans have for the University are second to none. Georgia Southern has always prided itself on the highest levels of success, and I welcome those expectations. We will have a staff and a team representing the toughness, discipline and GATA mentality on which this program was founded. I cannot wait to get started to build a football program that is consistently winning championships and is the platinum standard of college football on a national scale.”

Helton will be around the program, observing for the remainder of this season, before fully taking over after the 2021 campaign concludes. Helton named the guy in the Boro about six weeks after being let go as the head coach at USC.

He’s no stranger to demanding fanbases who expect victories and titles, and Helton says that demand is a major part of what drew him to Statesboro.

“There’s high expectations in this game and I’ve always welcomed them. Always. Just like I welcome this great expectation and the standard of excellence that this great university is. championships are demanded at this place. it’s what drives this place. and I welcome those expectations,” Helton said.

For more information on Helton, please click here.

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