5 candidates to replace Mike Bohn as USC Athletic Director
Mike Bohn unexpectedly resigned as USC athletic director on Friday after staffers "raised concerns" about his conduct, per the LA Times.
In a statement announcing the resignation, USC president Carol Folt wrote: "We will be announcing a transition team comprising both internal and external leaders in the coming days and will launch a national search for a new director of athletics shortly."
Here are five candidates to replace Bohn.
PAT CHUN
Chun, the Washington State AD, had been linked to USC prior to Bohn getting hired in 2019. Before his Washington State stint, Chun spent five-and-a-half years leading Florida Atlantic Athletics and the 15 before that at Ohio State in a series of roles in the athletic department. Chun's experience at Ohio State makes him an attractive option with USC moving to the Big Ten in 2024.
RICK GEORGE
George is Colorado's Athletic Director. He made the hire of the football offseason when he landed Deion Sanders. George is well respected in the world of college athletics.
MARK JACKSON
Jackson has spent the last eight years as the Villanova AD. Prior to his time at the school, Jackson was the Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Chief Innovation Officer at USC where he worked closely with the football team. Jackson has negotiated multiple big time sponsorship deals during his career.
BRANDON SOSNA
Sosna worked at USC Athletics from 2019 to 2021 with his most recent title being Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/Chief of Staff. Sosna was instrumental in bringing Lincoln Riley to USC, which would make him a popular AD choice among Trojans fans. Sosna currently works in the Detroit Lions front office as the Senior Director of Football Administration. He oversees the strategic planning and management of the salary cap as the team's primary contract negotiator, per the Lions' website. It may be a challenge to lure Sosna away from the NFL.
ED STEWART
Stewart is USC's Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director (Football Administration). Prior to joining USC Athletics, Stewart served 16 years as the Executive Associate Commissioner for Football of the Big 12 Conference. Stewart is a Chicago native who also spent two years of his career working at Michigan State. He graduated from the University of Nebraska where he was a linebacker and team captain on the 1994 national title team.