USC president releases statement on Mike Bohn's resignation, search for replacement
USC president Carol Folt released a statement on athletic director Mike Bohn’s abrupt resignation on Friday afternoon.
Folt thanked Bohn for his contributions over the past 4 years, which include hiring Lincoln Riley and leading USC into an agreement to join the Big Ten in 2024. Folt also shared that USC will launch a national search to hire Bohn’s replacement in the coming days.
Here’s Folt’s statement in-full:
“Dear Trojan Community,
I am writing to let you know that I have accepted Mike Bohn’s resignation as director of athletics, effective today. On behalf of the Trojan Family, I thank Mike for his contributions to our athletics department during a time of rapid transformation and growth. 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.
Over the last four years, the USC athletics department has transformed into a national powerhouse. 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.
I’m proud of how far we have come, and I know we can go even further. We are laser-focused on positioning USC and our student-athletes for success and continuing the momentum of our student-centric athletics programs with excellence on and off the field. We will keep you updated on our progress.”
Folt has been USC’s president since July 1, 2019. She hired Bohn away from Cincinnati’s athletic director role nearly 4 years ago.
Bohn, who had been USC athletic director since 2019, cited health issues amidst a myriad of challenges he’s planning to focus on in the future.