USC fires coach Kiffin after 7th loss in 11 games

LOS ANGELES (AP) University of Southern California fired Lane Kiffin early Sunday morning, not long after its football team lost 62-41 at Arizona State.

The Trojans posted a short news release to the athletic department website, saying that athletic director Pat Haden informed Kiffin of the decision "upon the team charter's arrival back in Los Angeles" after the defeat, USC's seventh in 11 games.

USC spokesman Tim Tessalone confirmed the decision when contacted by The Associated Press.

Kiffin went 28-15 at USC in parts of four seasons, but his team is 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 2001.