Southern California hired Washington’s Jennifer Cohen to be the Trojans’ new athletic director on Monday.
Cohen had overseen the Huskies’ athletic department since 2016. At USC, she replaces Mike Bohn, who resigned in May citing ongoing health challenges.
As the first female athletic director in USC history, Cohen arrives as the program prepares to depart the Pac-12 and join the Big Ten at the start of the 2024-25 academic year.
“I have long admired the Trojan spirit and the USC community’s commitment to always Fight On with integrity and absolute dedication in pursuit of excellence both on and off the field,” Cohen said in a news release. “It is an honor of a lifetime to come back to Southern California to serve as USC’s director of athletics and officially join the Trojan Family.
“USC is a national powerhouse in every measure of college athletics, and I look forward to honoring the Trojan heritage while working alongside the incredible USC Athletics team as we embrace both the opportunities and challenges of this complex moment.”
Cohen’s successes at Washington included the hiring of former Fresno State football coach Kalen DeBoer. He led the Huskies to an 11-2 record in his first season in 2022 to mark a seven-win improvement from the 2021 season.
Earlier this month, Cohen secured Washington’s place in the Big Ten.
“Jen is an experienced, engaged and steadfast leader who takes a student-centered approach in building and running an athletics program,” university president Carol L. Folt said in a news release. “And, she has built a reputation as a fierce competitor who wants to win in every sport the right way. We are experiencing an unprecedented transformation in college athletics, and Jen has the strategic vision and experience to lead USC Athletics through this historic time which includes joining America’s premier conference, the Big Ten, and hosting several venues for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
–Field Level Media
