USC and Ohio State might be competing for the same athletic director
Say, remember the USC athletic director position?
You know, the one that isn’t filled as the college football season approaches? USC has been without a permanent athletic director for months since Mike Bohn stepped down.
The Trojans clearly believe they can take their time on this hire. USC President Carol Folt brought in a team of highly experienced college sports administrators to consider candidates in a thorough and meticulous process. The Trojans are not in any rush.
However, maybe they now need to act more quickly. News broke this week that TCU’s Jeremiah Donati, who has presided over explosive growth and tremendous results at the school, will not pursue the USC job opening. That’s one athletic director candidate off the list. However, the Ohio State athletic director job just came open when it was announced longtime AD Gene Smith will retire in 2024.
Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, who recently hammered the Pac-12 Conference for its failed leadership and overall mismanagement, used to work under Gene Smith. Some Ohio State insiders think he would be the best, most natural replacement for Smith in Columbus. With USC entering the Big Ten, Chun’s work under Gene Smith makes him a very attractive candidate.
Are we seeing a situation in which USC and Ohio State have the same No. 1 choice, especially with Donati of TCU out of the running?
Ohio State is probably the favorite to land Chun as its next athletic director, but if USC wants to make a run at Chun, the time is now.
Let’s look at reactions to Donati’s decision, to the notes made by journalists who are covering these AD stories and to Ohio State fans’ views of Pat Chun:
WHO KNOWS?
Does TCU's Jeremiah Donati withdrawing his name mean USC's AD search is near a conclusion? https://t.co/aeW8PDRMM6
— USC Analytics (@USCanalytics) August 10, 2023
PLOT TWIST
Kinda shocked here….I thought he was the favorite.
— CGB1967 (@cgb_1967) August 10, 2023
THAT'S ONE ARGUMENT
Because he has a better job no reason to leave! #Tcu > #USC https://t.co/GLCSdPnIg2
— Brian (@BrianGottfried) August 11, 2023
CHANGING DYNAMICS
"Sources said that TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati has withdrawn his name for consideration as the next athletic director at #USC" https://t.co/ditumuepyo
— InsideUSC (@InsideUSC) August 10, 2023
DOMINOES COULD FALL
Was a top name for the job in LA. https://t.co/u5oCz1rtnb
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 10, 2023
GETTING INTERESTING
You might have forgotten that USC currently is in between ADs.
Believe this search is about to ramp up. https://t.co/n8PBLrobqM
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) August 10, 2023
FROG FUN
The fact that ADJD passed on the USC job is incredible for TCU athletics https://t.co/RH36kfAyOd
— Superfrog’s Burner (@SuperFrogBurner) August 10, 2023
DEPENDS ON WHO GETS THE JOB
Kind of a tough look for the Trojans there https://t.co/OElmDOwmhC
— CrimsonCast (@CrimsonCast) August 10, 2023
BJORK WOULD NOT BE ESPECIALLY GOOD
USC misses on their top guy for their vacant AD job.
I’ve seen Ross Bjork’s name mentioned a few times as a possibility. Not sure how credible it is. https://t.co/JsNpja6F31
— AggiesToday (AT) (@AggiesToday) August 10, 2023
VETERAN OHIO STATE REPORTER-WRITER-PODCASTER
Some current college ADs who worked under Gene Smith at Ohio State. Smith said next OSU prez will pick Smith’s replacement but the list might start here:
* Martin Jarmond, UCLA
* Heather Lyke, Pitt
* Pat Chun, Washington State
* Diana Sabau, Utah State (just hired)— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) August 9, 2023
ONE PERSON IS CLEARLY SOLD
With @OhioStAthletics Director, Gene Smith retiring next year the obvious no brainer choice to lead the Buckeyes next is Washington State AD, Pat Chun. He got his start at Ohio State. Went to school in Columbus. I’m sorry, Pullman but Chun would be my top pick to lead the Bucks.
— Ian Fitzsimmons (@Ianfitzespn) August 9, 2023
INDUSTRY CHATTER
A source told @11W that Washington State’s Pat Chun is a frontrunner to succeed Gene Smith as Ohio State’s AD.
He’s one of several former Smith assistants who could be candidates to return to Ohio State, though OSU still has to hire a new president first: https://t.co/aH9cxJ3LK4
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 9, 2023
TOLEDO BLADE NEWSPAPER REPORTER
I would be stunned if Ohio State’s next AD is not Pat Chun, Heather Lyke or Martin Jarmond.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) August 9, 2023
THE CHUN CHESSBOARD
Gene Smith's unexpected retirement announcement changes up my belief Buckeyes alum Pat Chun ends up at Iowa. I firmly believe Chun's dream job is Ohio State AD and he's been able to do great at FAU and now Washington State… this is ideal move for Chun, whose an awesome dude. https://t.co/noKFdaUPFk
— @CollegeFootballHullabalooForY'all (@Hullabaloo_WPN) August 9, 2023
PAC-12 EXIT COULD MAKE CHUN'S DECISION EASIER
Pat Chun deserves better. Hopefully can get the Ohio State gig next year. https://t.co/kqvzjCxfIl
— Jeremy Marks-Peltz (@JMP1063) August 10, 2023
DISSENTING VOICE
@OhioState’s @OhioStAthletics, should stay far from @pat_chun. Respectfully, @WSUCougars sat idly stoking ignorant hubris of PAC leadership/fans/writers, & fancying the PAC “too big to fail”… Outside @OSU_AD’s tutelage, Chun’s been reactive, not proactive. Now a frivolous suit? https://t.co/T5RypBwXf4 pic.twitter.com/6OkyBipV8m
— Kevin ❌ (@KevinMcCune) August 11, 2023
ANOTHER ENDORSEMENT
Met with Pat when at OSU. His specialty is fundraising. Great personality and always willing to help those in the community and HS coaches in Ohio. My opinion, he would be the most logical person based on his recent experience and his ties to the university and state of Ohio.
— Buckeye List (@tpw0222) August 9, 2023
