USC Football Coach Reportedly Headed To Seattle Seahawks

LOS ANGELES – USC football coach Pete Carroll will leave the university and accept the head coaching job with the NFL Seattle Seahawks, according to a published report Sunday night.

Trojan players and coaches were told about Carroll’s decision via a text message, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site.

Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke was in town Sunday to finalize the deal, The Times reported.

Earlier, it was reported that the Seahawks offered Carroll a five-year, $32.5 million contract.

However, reports that Carroll would also be offered the job of president or general manager of the Seahawks were apparently false.

Carroll was named the Trojans head coach in December 2000. He has a 97-19 record with USC, leading the team to seven Pacific 10 Conference titles and two national championships. Under his tenure, USC became the only school to win three straight Rose Bowl games.

He also coached Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer in 2002, Matt Leinart in 2004 and Reggie Bush in 2005.

But both the football and basketball programs are facing possible sanctions by the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations involving Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo.

The Daily News and The Times reported that USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett wants to hire Oregon State coach Mike Riley to replace Carroll. Riley was USC’s offensive coordinator under then-coach John Robinson in the mid-1990’s, and reportedly turned down the head coaching job at the school before Carroll was hired.

ESPN reported that Carroll could officially be named coach by the Seahawks as early as Monday.