USC athletics director Mike Bohn has resigned, effective immediately. Bohn announced his resignation in a statement to the Los Angeles Times.
"After more than 40 years of college athletics leadership, it is the right time to step away from my position as Director of Athletics at the University of Southern California. I have dedicated my life to serving student-athletes and advancing the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. I will always be proud of leading the program out of the most tumultuous times in the history of the profession and at USC with a restored reputation and national milestone accomplishments," Bohn told the paper. "In moving on, it is important now that I focus on being present with my treasured family, addressing ongoing health challenges, and reflecting on how I can be impactful in the future.”
Hired away from Cincinnati, Bohn oversaw a radical and permanent overhaul of USC football and USC athletics.
He fired Clay Helton in September of 2021 and replaced him with Lincoln Riley in November of 2021, and in the summer of 2022, along with UCLA, secured a spot in the Big Ten. The Trojans will join the conference next summer.
It'll take a few decades to asses the Big Ten move, but the Riley hire paid immediate dividends. Following a 4-8 campaign, USC was in the hunt for the College Football Playoff into December and claimed the school's eighth Heisman Trophy in Riley's debut season.
"Over the last four years, the USC athletics department has transformed into a national powerhouse," USC president Carol Folt said. "In our singular pursuit of excellence, I am committed to ensuring we have the right leadership in place to achieve our goals. As part of that commitment and as we prepare to move to the Big Ten, we conducted a thorough review of the athletics department, including its operations, culture, and strategy. Having built a strong foundation over the last few years, now is the time for new direction grounded in our values and in expertise needed to fulfill our aspirational vision for Trojan athletics."
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Update: The LA Times is reporting USC retained an outside law firm specializing “sexual harassment and misconduct” to examine the department's workplace culture, and that staffers raised concerns about Bohn during that review.