Pat Haden to Step Down as USC Athletic Director

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USC athletic director Pat Haden will step down from his post June 30, according to a statement Friday from the university.

Haden will stay on for a year to guide the university’s renovation of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and will maintain an office in the school’s Bovard Administration Building. The university will conduct a search to find Haden’s replacement.

Since Haden moved from USC trustee to athletic director in 2010, USC teams have won 10 national championships. The university also recorded four Honda Sports Award winners, 32 individual national championships and 274 All-American first-team selections.

Also during Haden’s tenure, USC Athletics hit its highest fundraising total ever, and academic performance by USC’s student athletes reached all-time highs under his leadership. He also established the first endowment in any athletic department for community service, making volunteerism an important part of the student athlete experience, according to the statement.

Even with these accomplishments, Haden’s five-plus years as athletic director were also defined by some highly criticized missteps. He was embroiled in controversy since August when football coach Steve Sarkisian was allowed to continue coaching after he slurred words, demeaned opponents and used an expletive while on stage at the university’s annual Salute to Troy booster event.

On Oct. 11, Haden put Sarkisian on indefinite leave after the coach failed to appear for practice that afternoon. Haden was accused by some of not properly vetting Sarkisian before he was hired in December 2013 to replace Lane Kiffin.

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