USC's Pat Haden to Step Down in June

USC Athletic Director Pat Haden will retire at the end of June after six years in the post, the university announced today.

He will continue working with the university for one year to help guide the renovation of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, according to a letter sent to alumni by USC President C.L. Max Nikias.

Haden became USC’s athletic director in 2010, replacing the 66-year-old Mike Garrett, who held the post for 17 years. Haden, a former USC quarterback, had been serving on the university’s Board of Trustees since 1991. He resigned that post when he was named athletic director.

As a player, Haden helped lead USC to three Rose Bowl appearances and two national titles. He graduated from USC in 1975 and went on to quarterback the Los Angeles Rams from 1976-81, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1977.

He continued his academic career while playing football, studying philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University. He received a law degree from Loyola Law School in 1982.

He spent two decades as a partner with Riordan, Lewis and Haden -- a venture-capital firm that includes former Mayor Richard Riordan.

In addition to his work with the venture capital firm, Haden was the analyst on NBC’s Notre Dame telecast since 1998. From 1990-97, he was an analyst for TNT’s Sunday night NFL games, and for CBS from 1982-90.

Haden took over the department when the football program was trying to recover from the NCAA sanctions, which were handed down in large part due to improper benefits given to former star running back Reggie Bush and his family.

He took some heat during the past season with his handling of Coach Steve Sarkisian, who was fired amid a battle with alcohol use. Haden did not immediately fire Sarkisian, opting to keep him on despite a public melt-down by the coach in which he slurred his words and used profanity during an apparently drunken speech at a pre-season pep rally.

Sarkisian later blamed his behavior on a mix of alcohol and prescription drugs.

--City News Service, photo via Wiki Commons