USC hires Lynn Swann to replace Pat Haden as athletic director
USC’s replacing Pat Haden as its athletic director with another former Trojan as former wide receiver and Hall of Famer Lynn Swann will take over the job.
The school made the news official Wednesday. Swann will take over for Haden on July 1.
“I am excited about coming back to USC — its growth and success under President [C.L. Max] Nikias has been phenomenal and my family and I are looking forward to being a part of that,” Swann said in a statement. “As athletic director, my goals for the student-athletes will be to graduate, to win and to experience.”
Swann played at USC from 1970-1973. He played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the MVP of Super Bowl X and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Like Haden, Swann has been a broadcaster in his post-playing career and also made a foray into politics. He ran for Pennsylvania governor in 2006 as a Republican and lost by 20 points to incumbent Democrat Ed Rendell.
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USC’s release touts Swann’s gubernatorial campaign as well as his roles on many corporate boards. It also makes sure to note that Swann will serve only on the Fluor Corporation Board and the PGA of America Board (through November) once he’s USC’s athletic director. After Haden stepped down from the College Football Playoff committee in 2015, the Los Angeles Times noted he served on a dozen boards.
Haden left the committee on doctor’s orders to reduce his traveling and announced his retirement in February. Shortly after the retirement announcement, Haden was taken from USC’s campus in an ambulance after he was lightheaded. He had previously become lightheaded on the sidelines before USC’s game at Notre Dame in 2015, a circumstance that precipitated stepping down from the committee.
“The Trojan Family will be forever grateful to Pat for stewarding USC athletics through some of its most challenging times,” Nikias said.
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For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
