Pat Haden, athletic director at the University of Southern California (USC), will not suspend head football coach Steve Sarkisian for his drunken episode at the school's Salute to Troy event on Aug. 22.
Haden appeared on ESPN Los Angeles' "Trojans Live" radio program on Monday to explain his decision as well. Haden told the radio station he consulted medical personnel at USC, but would not disclose much else that went into his decision, The Los Angeles Times reported.
"I understand a lot of people are going to disagree with my decision - it happens all the time," Haden said. "I believe the course of action we chose was really in the best interest of USC and Steve Sarkisian and maybe just an important, or more importantly, our players."
Sarkisian admitted to mixing unspecified medications with a small amount of alcohol and said he would seek help to ensure another embarrassing display would never happen again, ESPN reported last week. The Trojans' head football coach denied having a drinking problem, but stated he would "go to treatment" regardless.
In a statement provided to ESPN just after the Salute to Troy event, Haden and Sarkisian alluded to a one-on-one conversation, but neither discussed the details. Haden was expected to consider disciplinary action, because Sarkisia's drunken episode took place in front of alumni and football boosters who donate money to the program.
In his recent comments, The Times noted, Haden emphasized the decision to not keep Sarkisian out of any USC football games was in the team's "best interest." The coach reportedly asked his players how he should be punished and they had him do an exercise known as up-downs.
"We've had some glitches, myself included," Haden said on the radio program. "Every decision I've made, like I said, even though a lot people disagree with them, I do try to give it a great deal of thought in what's in the interest of USC."
