House of Troy

Pat Haden embodied the ideal of the Trojan Family. He was a former USC quarterback, a Rhodes Scholar and successful businessman who was tapped to lead the athletic department in the wake of the NCAA sanctions. But despite his popularity, Haden’s tenure was marked by controversial decisions and more turmoil for the USC football program. His departure ushered in another turbulent chapter, as USC turned to a fellow Trojan football legend to take his place.

House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

After passing over Ed Orgeron for the head coach position, USC turned to Steve Sarkisian, one of Pete Carroll’s protégés. But as the 2014 season got under way, players began to notice signs of Sarkisian’s drinking. His behavior spiraled into a series of increasingly public incidents, culminating in his firing. In this episode, we go inside the unraveling of Sarkisian’s tenure and hear from the athletes who experienced it firsthand. We also examine the drinking culture that has been pervasive in the world of college football coaching.

House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

After Lane Kiffin’s firing in 2013, beloved assistant Ed Orgeron was appointed interim head coach. With influential booster Brian Kennedy in his corner, Orgeron hoped to land the job permanently. But when athletic director Pat Haden passed him over, Orgeron felt abandoned by the school he loved, leaving a rift that may never heal.



House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

In 2010, Lane Kiffin takes over from Pete Carroll as USC’s head coach. He sees it as a dream job, but soon finds himself tasked with cleaning up his mentor’s mess and guiding the Trojans through NCAA sanctions. In a candid interview with The Times, Kiffin reflects on his rise, his humiliating firing at LAX and the personal spiral that followed. Today, the LSU coach has found sobriety, faith and hot yoga. Yet even after reinventing himself, Kiffin remains one of football’s most cryptic personalities.

House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.

Reggie Bush was the face of USC football’s glory years — and one of the figures at the center of its collapse. But behind the saga was a group of men trying to build a sports agency around Bush, and in the process, said they provided him and his family with the benefits that would ultimately bring the NCAA down on USC. Two decades later, the fallout still lingers. Bush still denies the claims and is fighting to restore his reputation. And the people behind New Era Sports & Entertainment are still reckoning with how the scandal changed their lives.

House of Troy is a new podcast from LA Times Studios tracing the rise and fall of USC football, from coach Pete Carroll’s back-to-back national titles in the 2000s, to the Reggie Bush scandal, to the series of missteps that followed. It’ll feature exclusive interviews with coaches, players, and USC officials who saw it all up close — and shine new light on how a college football dynasty came undone.