Jen Cohen was introduced as USC’s next athletic director on Monday.

After months of USC quietly going about its search for Mike Bohn’s replacement, news hit that the Trojans would be taking one of the Pac-12’s top athletic directors to help steer the department into the Big Ten. But Cohen’s departure also comes at a time when UW is preparing for the same move.

At a news conference on Monday, Cohen was asked about the timeline. Did the interview process for the USC job overlap with her role in getting Washington to the Big Ten?

“When I was focused on getting Washington into the Big Ten, I was 100% focused on getting Washington into the Big Ten,” she responded.

Cohen said she was initially disappointed a year ago when USC announced it was leaving the Pac-12. But, she felt it was the right move for the Trojans.

Now, she’ll benefit from that move. USC will enter its new league as a fully-vested member, entitled to a full share of the media rights revenue that will come from the Big Ten’s landmark deal with FOX, NBC, and CBS. The Huskies won’t be a full member under the current deal — a seven-year contract that begins this season.

Cohen said she’ll be supporting Washington every time it takes the field going forward. Just not against USC.

“There is no place that has afforded me more than the University of Washington,” she said.