The USC Trojans are moving in a new direction after firing head coach Clay Helton. Helton was fired after the Trojans lost to Stanford 42-28. It was a long time coming. USC has not been a successful team in a few years.

Now USC needs to shift its focus into finding a new head coach. They named Donte Williams the interim head coach, who will fill the void until they find a permanent replacement. With that said, here are 3 coaching options for the Trojans after firing Clay Helton.

USC Trojans options:

3. Donte Williams

While some college fans haven't heard of Donte Williams, he has had a great impression on USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn.

Bohn said, “I’m confident that as our interim head coach Donte Williams gives us a higher probability for success the remainder of the season. Donte is an experienced and well-respected coach who is renowned for his ability to develop relationships with student-athletes, and I appreciate his willingness to take on this challenge.”

This is high praise coming from the Athletic Director, and if USC has a good season, it would be hard to let him go. Williams has been a strong recruiter for USC since joining the staff before the 2020 season. He has the ability to lead this football team in the right direction and would be a good coach for the Trojans.

2. James Franklin

An intriguing candidate for the head coaching job at USC is James Franklin. He is currently the coach at Penn State, but it seems he has hit his peak as the Nittany Lions coach. In his eight seasons as Penn State's coach, Franklin is 62-28, which shows he can coach at a high level.

Franklin has elevated his teams above where they should be and would be a great coach for the Trojans. The Trojans desperately need to get back on track and become a powerhouse in College Football once again. Franklin would be a good option for the Trojans to look into.

1. Luke Fickell

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The rumored frontrunner for the USC job is Luke Fickell. Fickell is the head coach of Cincinnati and has built them up into a top-ranked school. In his time with Cincinnati, Fickell has a 37-14 record, which shows what he is capable of. A key thing to note is Fickell was hired by now USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn.

Fickell would thrive with the opportunity of coaching at USC, as the Trojans could become a powerhouse once again. It's a bigger market than Cincinnati, which would allow recruiting to be easier. This deal makes sense for both sides, but it will come down to whether Fickell wants to stay at Cincinnati or go to USC.

The Trojans have a lot to think about as they mull over their decision on their next head coach. It is clear that they are ready to get back to competing for a national championship, and that all starts with picking the right coach. There are many viable options, but USC needs to factor in recruiting and the ability to lead a team.

The Trojans currently sit at 1-1, with Williams coming in as the interim head coach. Williams has the chance to seize this job by having a successful season, but Franklin and Fickell have better track records. Whatever direction USC goes will determine the future for the Trojans in the coming years.