As the man she hired to be athletic director made a controversial move Wednesday that could define his tenure, new USC president Carol L. Folt stood behind Mike Bohn and the process that led him to retain head football coach Clay Helton.

“I hired Mike to make this important decision, and I expect him to show outstanding results,” Folt told The Times.

“He believes very strongly that Coach Helton has led the football program with integrity. He’s deeply committed to student-athletes’ success, on and off the field. I’ve seen it myself. I think he and Mike both know that there’s important work to be done. We have very high expectations.”

Until Wednesday, it had been uncertain if Helton had done enough to fulfill those expectations, after finishing 13-11 over the last two seasons.

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I am pleased to let you know Coach Helton will continue to be our head coach.

“It’s been in Ohio as early as the mid-1850s at least, brought in as an ornamental plant because of its unique foliage and white flowers,” Gardner said. “It was actually planted in people’s landscaping, and it has been spreading.”

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His commitment to our student-athletes and to leading with integrity is vital to restoring our championship program, which is the goal for all of our teams.

— Mike Bohn (@USC_mikebohn) December 4, 2019