10 college football coaches who could be out of a job after the 2020 season

Clay Helton, USC Trojans

Record: 40-22 in 4+ seasons

With head coaches, not only do they have to win games on the field, but they must win the continuous battle against fans and booster clubs. The USC Trojans have a highly impatient fanbase and a booster club. For Clay Helton, their former offensive coordinator, it has not been easy having to take over a program that left wide open after Steve Sarkisian’s midseason firing.

The Trojans looked to be in great shape with Helton that 2015 season when he helped the Trojans win the Pac-12 South title. He followed that season with a 10-3 (7-2 in conference play) season in 2016 as well as an 11-3 (8-1) campaign in 2017. The Trojans won the Pac-12 title in Sam Darnold’s final season as quarterback.

They followed their conference championship season with a 5-7 season in 2018 which was Helton’s third full season as head coach. This was the first losing season that the Trojans suffered since 2000.

Last season, the Trojans finished with an 8-5 record and finished in second place behind the Utah Utes in the South division. Helton showed the capability to turn the Trojans around for a good season.

This season, the fanbase and booster club will push Helton for another Pac-12 title. The seat shouldn’t be as hot as other coaches in college football but the rough 2018 season and the demand for high-success of the program puts Helton under the spotlight.

The previous coaches that USC has created a high-end search for in Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian has ended in disaster. Helton took over the program and created more success than either coach but this season will be a key point in his career as the Trojans are the Pac-12 South favorites.