Why Mike Bohn Isn't The USC AD Yet
Mike Bohn is still expected to be USC's next athletic director. The reason he hasn't just yet has to do with who could be its next football coach.
Bohn has not signed a deal with USC because of strong resistance from high-ranking members of the administration over Urban Meyer being offered the head coaching job should the university part ways with Clay Helton, sources told SI. While that stance is said to have played a part in multiple ADs declining USC, the matter came to a head with Bohn only after he agreed to leave his current post at Cincinnati.
Discussions between USC President Carol Folt and Bohn continued Tuesday in an effort to resolve the situation, with the longtime AD likely headed west after being assured he will have autonomy over the Trojans' coaching situation. An announcement for Bohn's hire could still come this week.
Bohn is hardly alone in wanting to pursue Meyer, as several boosters have been adamant about their desire to land the former Ohio State and Florida coach. The latter's efforts could also impact Helton's current status, per sources.
For weeks, the administration's working plan has been to have a new AD decide on the football coach at the end of the regular season. Sources said several disgruntled boosters and at least one prominent member of the school's Board of Trustees have pushed for Helton to be ousted this weekend if USC loses at Arizona State.
That pressure was initially applied toward Folt and interim athletic director Dave Roberts following the BYU loss in September. The contingent only grew bigger and louder this past weekend after seeing the team humiliated by Oregon coupled with Florida State firing Willie Taggart.
The boosters' urgency stems from wanting the university to be able to openly negotiate with Meyer immediately rather than in late November. Preliminary discussions between the two sides commenced weeks ago, with many prominent boosters making it clear they'll support a market-setting offer for the three-time national champion, according to multiple sources.
Meyer, who's been working in Los Angeles this fall as a college football analyst for Fox Sports, recently purchased a home in the South Bay.
-- Adam Maya is a USC graduate and has been covering the Trojans since 2003. Follow him on Twitter @AdamJMaya.
