USC Athletic Director Pat Haden To Step Down In June In Wake Of Sarkisian Firing

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Pat Haden, the longtime athletic director at USC who faced criticism for the firing of football coach Steve Sarkisian, will retire in June, university officials announced Friday.

After that time, Nikias said that Haden will remain at USC for a year, guiding the Coliseum renovation, according to USC President Max Nikias.

Haden has run the athletic department for nearly six years, leading the Trojans through a multiyear stretch of NCAA sanctions against its vaunted football program. He created a large NCAA compliance program and improved graduation rates and grade point averages across the athletic department.

The former USC quarterback also received criticism for the football program's relative underachievement and for his handling of Sarkisian, who has sued the school over his termination last year.

In a statement, Haden said: "I am proud of what has been accomplished here the past six years and knowing that USC Athletics is on an upward trajectory. I look forward to finishing out this academic year as athletic director and then spending time on the Coliseum project."

Nikias says Haden's department also raised over $400 million during his tenure.

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