NEWS

USC To Hire Cincinnati’s Mike Bohn As Athletic Director

USC has hired Mike Bohn to be its next athletic director, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The good news is Bohn has absolutely no USC ties. Before he became the athletic director Cincinnati, he was the athletic director at Colorado from 2005-13 before he was forced out. Colorado president Bruce Benson was unhappy more money had not been raised for athletic dept. facilities.

Bohn hired Mike MacIntyre at Colorado and Luke Fickell at Cincinnati. He also hired Dan Hawkins at Colorado and called it a “home run” hire. It was considered a good hire but Hawkins went 16-33.

He hired Tom Cable at Idaho. Cable is another well-respected coach but was not successful at Idaho. At least he didn’t hire Cable’s successor, Nick Holt.

Bohn also led Colorado’s departure from the Pac-12 to the Big 12.

What do I think? I don’t know a lot about Bohn but I know he has been an athletic director, which is more than Mike Garrett, Pat Haden and Lynn Swann. So it’s a good step forward. I also know some of the bigger names were not interested or turned it down.

He won’t come to Heritage Hall and want to be on the golf simulator all day or go to autograph shows instead of doing his job. He is an outsider, so there won’t any chumminess with any boosters or long-time employees.

At the end of the day, the big question is whether he fires Clay Helton.

P.S. It is ironic that the only two times USC hired an athletic director from the outside (Mike McGee, Bohn), they came from Cincinnati.

64 thoughts on “USC To Hire Cincinnati’s Mike Bohn As Athletic Director”

    1. Out of respect, let’s save the ‘Fire Helton’ talk until after Oregon….[but, let’s be honest, in the meantime let’s dream of Fickell in 2020]…..

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      2. karma — We hear you. But “Fire Helton NOW”? You need to relax a little on this one. We have a game on Saturday….
        #EverythingIsInMotion…
        #CanYouWaitOneMonth..?

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      3. I think the plan was to hire an AD in November and make a coaching change after the UCLA game.
        If CH wins out, it’s still going to be ugly undisciplined, mistake ridden play. That needs to end.

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      4. I think the plan was to hire an AD in November and make a coaching change after the UCLA game.
        If CH wins out, it’s still going to be ugly undisciplined, mistake ridden play. That needs to end.

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Dude — I think that’s a pretty good set of guesstimates —-but Helton has the power to make it all look weird if he wins out.
        #Nobody’sEverWonARoseBowl&GottenCannedBefore

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      7. MG.. What Does ‘save the Fire Helton talk until after Oregon’ mean? Are you honestly, really thinking that beating Ducks should save or have any real bearing on Helton’s job now? Gomer’s earned his pink slip even before the bowl game we failed to qualify for last season. His double digits litany of mass embarrassments to the nation during his term. His loss of primarily the California, but also national recruiting battles and the diminishing luster on our brand are just pieces of the sound and solid reasoning that he’s not and never has been the right fit for our HC job. {Let’s be honest, in the meantime let’s dream of Urban in November of 2019 and a blazing competent actual really talented developmental and competitive coaching staff asap to follow]

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      8. Tanking it in football is playing for yourself, getting yours, while not looking out for teammates or giving it your all for the program. Are some players tanking already is the question.

        Liked by 1 person

      9. gillyking —Check out what I said. Helton is gone after this year. The only question is who’ll replace him.
        #ButIt’sGonnaLookWeirdIfHeWinsOut….

        Liked by 1 person

      1. 67 —Meyer is The Guy. But this hire really makes it look like we’re headed in a different direction. Time for everybody to check out Fickell’s resume. Pretty impressive. And he sounds a lot like Pete Carroll in interviews —same strange mixture of sincerity and killer instinct…
        #He’sForReal

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      3. Michael, what I really like is that SC made a choice very quickly (at least, for SC standards).

        What I would like to know are the conversations that took place prior to his job acceptance.

        Did Folt say “You do what it takes to bring USC football back to USC football”? If she did, then Bohn won’t need to play the game of “Well, if Helton goes 8-4, then politically I can’t replace him just yet.”

        Clay is what he is. A guy who peaked as a coach before he was SC’s HC. There is no uncertainty to resolve about his coaching abilities or how he will guide the team.

        Bohn seems to be a serious AD. After 10 years, it is about time we had one.

        #BrighterDaysAhead

        Liked by 3 people

      4. It’s an easy choice, karma (for us). But for USC it’s complicated —-they feel they not only have to pick the guy who brings the goods ….but the guy who has never sinned against political correctness.
        #BeHappyIfNextCoachIsn’tAlanAlda

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      5. 67 — I suspect the word to Bohn was “Football is king here…. be our next kingmaker. Please.”
        #StillSmilingOver”KickingChipKelly’sAssClubGettingBigger”

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    2. Hi Michael,

      As far as a I am concerned, Budda is correct for immediate action. But the consequences are even worse. We do not know anything about the new AD. He was an AD at San Diego St., so I am sure he has heard of SC. Now the real tricky question is, will he take marching order from the BOT’s, or will he be his own man and clean house by getting rid of the assistant AD’s that were involved with the money grab and fire Helton. If he fires Helton, then what is the salary that Bohn can pay for a new coach. Will Bohn have to pay the entire buyout for Helton? If so, then is someone willing to put up $12 mil? Also, it is nice to have a fresh face, but who does the new AD know to bring in the money to SC?

      I hope I am wrong, but knowing how SC screws everything up, I will wait to see what happens before I give comment on Bohn.

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      1. Suspend judgement? Wait til facts are in? That’s exactly the kind of sensible reaction that can get you in big trouble here, pt!
        #BePrecipitousLikeTheRestOfUs

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      1. Who’s Fickell? Great Ohio State starter for 3 years. Great Ohio State Assistant Coach. Savior of the Cincinnati football program. Check out any one of his post game pressers on YouTube —he’s got ‘coach magic.’

        Liked by 1 person

    4. MG, Fickell isn’t ready for USC, he knows it and Bohn knows it. It looks very good that there will be a lot of pain and turmoil in the athletic department. Hope he cleans house entirely. Not just football either, everything. Make way for Urban Meyer, Saint Urban will be rolling into Heritage Hall December 1st, if not sooner.
      #FinallyTheWaitIsOver

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      1. Fickell won’t immediately lure recruits or sell the program. Meyer would come in, turn the program around, win recruits, win a natty or two, then retire and leave it to someone like Luke Fickell to continue the legacy.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. We could do a lot worse than Fickell —but I think you’re probably right….
        #FickellIsn’tReadyForPrimeTime[OrScott]Yet…

        Liked by 1 person

    5. Coach Fick may be up-trending, might even be over all a great option, HOWEVER Urban is the elite HC candidate out there and the one who’ll have the best chance of shaking up recruiting and every other positive thing about Fight On. The point is recovery from the HCF “Helton Culture of Failure). The sooner the better. As the stagecoach is barreling out of control down the grade, ya must start slowing down those horses ASAP!

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  5. Next move or two will determine how everyone feels about him. Clay is out for sure, no need to pile on. If Meyer comes, the guy moves to legend status as AD.

    Also, Scott please proof your posts. Colorado is still in PAC 12.

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    1. I’d bet that those conversations have already been made. Also betting that Roberts/Folt have already instructed Bohn re: Helton, during the hiring process. To jumpstart recruiting and fan/alumni support this must be a home run splash event imho.

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      1. Michael,

        I would agree on this premise, but there is one problem with your thought in my eyes. Yes Urban can get a team prepared for bama, but with Helton’s recruiting for the last few years, SC does not have as much talent as bama. You need recruits with talent. Sc has recruits, but the level is not the same as bama.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. pt —A very smart analysis. Urban could make it “a very, very tough opener for Saban”…. but the “payback is a bitch” part is probably overly ambitious….
        #….WeLosePittmanToGraduationToo

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Michael,

        Thank you for letting me know who Fickel is. I wonder if he would run power or the RPO? I would prefer Myers or Herman prior though.

        Liked by 2 people

      4. I think SC would have a good chance at beating Bama, especially if Tua is gone. If Marlon and Jay Tufele stay, and with Jackson back as a true sophomore, the trenches will be very potent. The OL will return everyone and should be better. The secondary will be stronger and with Magua getting some experience at LB, the defense could be really stout.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Arturo –Add Stepp, Slovis, Christon and London and you might be right—
        #WithTheRightCoachingWe’dHaveAShot…
        #[AtLeastItWouldn’tBe52-6]….

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Maybe it’s a good thing Mike Bohn was forced out of Colorado for lack of fundraising, because it was a wake up call. But at the same time, he knows he’ll raise millions if he has a top 5 football team at USC. And with Urban Myer available, that would make Bohn’s job that much easier

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    1. I know everybody here has their heart (understandably) set on Meyer —-but don’t sell Fickell short…
      #He’sYoung,He’sHealthy,NoBaggage&GreatCoach….

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      1. I’m shocked MG, the Rah-Rah/Pimps are acting like they just finished their first-ever beer.

        I) I doubt the bozos could beat Alabama if Bill Belichick was the bozo HC.

        2) Fickell/Meyer; Meyer/Fickell; Fickell/Meyer, neither is happening.

        3) Why would a new bozo FB HC want to face Alabama in his very 1st game?

        4) And lastly, why would any prospective bozo HC want to put up with the shit that’s heaped on a Clown U HFBC? For example, the new AD hasn’t sat behind his new desk yet, but he’s expected to revive the declining bozo FB program by next week.

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  13. The $12 million dollar question is, when does Bohn start? If he starts after January 1st, can he replace Helton in time with Myers or whoever to change the recruiting program? Can they hire a staff fast enough and allow them to adapt in time for February 6, 2020?

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  14. Since when did Colorado depart “from the Pac-12 to the Big 12?” I know this did spends every ounce of his energy hating USC, but at least get the basic facts right.

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  15. Since when did Colorado depart “from the Pac-12 to the Big 12?” I know this dude spends every ounce of his energy hating USC, but at least get the basic facts right.

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  16. Fickell is awesome, but hiring successful mid-major coaches is how you turn an elite program into just a decent one. To make your program elite you have to hire elite. Every year 5 or 6 mid major coaches that are tearing it up get hired to elite or near elite jobs. It rarely brings elite results. Look at scott frost at nebraska, or herman at texas, or pruitt at Tennessee or…. the list goes on… Meyer is the only Elite coach available. and the only other sure thing would be saban or carroll. those are the only other two that have shown they can win at the highest level anywhere.

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  18. If Bohn were to bring in Meyer, that alone would open booster/donor pockets and add some new money also. Caruso needs to step up with $20-25m for the Athletic Department.

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