Each month, we interview USC athletic director Pat Haden to keep you up to date on all the happenings around Heritage Hall.
Q.) What kind of environment do you want to create at the Galen Center for basketball games?
I visited Cameron Indoor Stadium for a Duke vs. North Carolina game a couple years ago and it just struck me what an advantage the Blue Devils have playing in a packed arena with a filled out student section. It has to be worth 8 to 10 points per game for Duke. I want to create a similar environment for our basketball team. We are getting better. We are not world-beaters yet, but we are improving. We have sold most of the lower bowl out, but people do not use their tickets. My hope is that people with tickets will show up or give their tickets away to friends, neighbors and kids, so we can have a crowd there to create an atmosphere of success and make it a real pit for opposing teams.
Q.) Why did you add a women's lacrosse program?
This is a sport that was invented by the Native Americans and it is now the fastest growing sport in California. Women's lacrosse is another opportunity to showcase the talents of young women, who we hope will come play for us and eventually win us a national championship. The sport traditionally generates great student-athletes and we are fully committed to providing them an opportunity to thrive at USC.
Q.) What has the response been since you announced the new All-Sports Building?
The reception has been awesome. The people with whom we have spoken clearly recognize the need to upgrade the facilities of all 21 of our sports now. We are on a fundraising blitz and we have gotten strong support. We are always looking for continued support as we try to raise $70 million to complete the project. We are going to have a groundbreaking ceremony in January and we fully intend to have this thing built in 18 months.
Q.) What else is on your development agenda?
We need to endow each of our 240 scholarships and it takes a $1 million to endow a scholarship. We are looking for folks who are willing to make that commitment to Trojan athletics. It can be paid over two, three, five years if necessary. A million dollar gift will allow us to continue to support our athletic programs unlike some state schools, which are having to give up sports.
Q.) What are your final thoughts on this year's women's soccer season?
The outgoing seniors were part of the freshman class that won a national championship. We are still the only Pac-10 team to win a national title in women's soccer. It was a good building season for Coach Ali and his staff with a lot of good young players. We need to step up our recruiting and bring in another great class, which I think we are. We are going to be a force over the next two, three, five years because we have good coaches and a commitment to winning.
Q.) What are your thoughts on how the football program has battled through adversity this season?
The season that Coach Kiffin and his staff have put forth this year has been astounding to me. They have done a phenomenal job with all the impediments that were in their way.
Q.) How impressed are you with women's volleyball senior Geena Urango, who recently made 1st team All-Pac-10 for academics?
It is a testament to these young athletes like Geena, who balances volleyball at the highest collegiate level and the rigors of the academic challenge at USC. It is just remarkable and we have a number of student-athletes at that level. She is the latest and greatest in that line. On the court, I also feel like women's volleyball is going to make a real good push at the end of the season and have a chance to win it all.
Q.) How great was it to see a packed house for the "Crosstown Splashdown" at McDonald's Swim Stadium for the men's water polo win over UCLA?
Even though they are wearing caps on their head and splashing around in the water, they can still hear the band. They can still hear the parents and student section. It is great for them. It is really important to me that students support other students. Just as a I expect the men's water polo players to support their fellow student-athletes, I love seeing a sold out house for a our superb water polo team.
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Q.) What kind of environment do you want to create at the Galen Center for basketball games?I visited Cameron Indoor Stadium for a Duke vs. North Carolina game a couple years ago and it just struck me what an advantage the Blue Devils have playing in a packed arena with a filled out student section. It has to be worth 8 to 10 points per game for Duke. I want to create a similar environment for our basketball team. We are getting better. We are not world-beaters yet, but we are improving. We have sold most of the lower bowl out, but people do not use their tickets. My hope is that people with tickets will show up or give their tickets away to friends, neighbors and kids, so we can have a crowd there to create an atmosphere of success and make it a real pit for opposing teams.
Q.) Why did you add a women's lacrosse program?
This is a sport that was invented by the Native Americans and it is now the fastest growing sport in California. Women's lacrosse is another opportunity to showcase the talents of young women, who we hope will come play for us and eventually win us a national championship. The sport traditionally generates great student-athletes and we are fully committed to providing them an opportunity to thrive at USC.
Q.) What has the response been since you announced the new All-Sports Building?The reception has been awesome. The people with whom we have spoken clearly recognize the need to upgrade the facilities of all 21 of our sports now. We are on a fundraising blitz and we have gotten strong support. We are always looking for continued support as we try to raise $70 million to complete the project. We are going to have a groundbreaking ceremony in January and we fully intend to have this thing built in 18 months.
Q.) What else is on your development agenda?
We need to endow each of our 240 scholarships and it takes a $1 million to endow a scholarship. We are looking for folks who are willing to make that commitment to Trojan athletics. It can be paid over two, three, five years if necessary. A million dollar gift will allow us to continue to support our athletic programs unlike some state schools, which are having to give up sports.
Q.) What are your final thoughts on this year's women's soccer season?The outgoing seniors were part of the freshman class that won a national championship. We are still the only Pac-10 team to win a national title in women's soccer. It was a good building season for Coach Ali and his staff with a lot of good young players. We need to step up our recruiting and bring in another great class, which I think we are. We are going to be a force over the next two, three, five years because we have good coaches and a commitment to winning.
Q.) What are your thoughts on how the football program has battled through adversity this season?
The season that Coach Kiffin and his staff have put forth this year has been astounding to me. They have done a phenomenal job with all the impediments that were in their way.
Q.) How impressed are you with women's volleyball senior Geena Urango, who recently made 1st team All-Pac-10 for academics?It is a testament to these young athletes like Geena, who balances volleyball at the highest collegiate level and the rigors of the academic challenge at USC. It is just remarkable and we have a number of student-athletes at that level. She is the latest and greatest in that line. On the court, I also feel like women's volleyball is going to make a real good push at the end of the season and have a chance to win it all.
Q.) How great was it to see a packed house for the "Crosstown Splashdown" at McDonald's Swim Stadium for the men's water polo win over UCLA?
Even though they are wearing caps on their head and splashing around in the water, they can still hear the band. They can still hear the parents and student section. It is great for them. It is really important to me that students support other students. Just as a I expect the men's water polo players to support their fellow student-athletes, I love seeing a sold out house for a our superb water polo team.
Haden (right) with J.K. McKay. (Photo by Jon SooHoo)
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