Each month, we interview USC athletic director Pat Haden to keep you up to date on all the happenings around Heritage Hall.
Q.) How impressed are you by the Women of Troy's road run to the WNIT title game?
"This Women of Troy squad has won more games now than any women's basketball team since 1994. They wanted to extend the season and we were really supportive of that. They have had an incredible run and traveled all over the place. They have handled it all with great aplomb and played some outstanding basketball."
Q.) Have you fully resolved the off-court incident with Kevin O'Neill?
"To make it perfectly clear, Kevin O'Neill is our men's basketball coach. There is no doubt about that. He and his wife realize they made a serious mistake in judgment. They have done everything they possibly could to apologize to everyone involved. There are some other requirements of his reinstatement, but he is fully engaged in accepting responsibility for what he has to do to make amends and to be a leader of young men. "
Q.) As we transition into the spring seasons, what has caught your eye?
"We have so many nationally-prominent spring sports at USC right now. Our swim teams just had top 10 NCAA finishes, with Katinka Hosszu winning three NCAA crowns and being named Swimmer of the Meet. Our men's volleyball team is ranked No. 1 and they are crushing opponents. The track team, which has another home meet this weekend, is full of high-caliber athletes. Women's water polo is defending its NCAA title. Men's and women's tennis boast the No. 1 players in the nation in Steve Johnson and Maria Sanchez, respectively. Baseball, golf, rowing... There is always something to watch. I hope everybody enjoys it as much as I do."
Q.) How difficult is the baseball rebuilding job going to be?
"It is not going to be easy. It is different than when I was here in the 70's and we won five straight national titles. Tuition was $2,000 then and we did not have the scholarship limitations. With only 11.7 scholarships now, you have to be right on all your recruits. And, you hope they stay healthy. Frank Cruz has established a great recruiting base. Fundamentally, we are greatly improved. We would always love to win more games, but it is going to take a while."
Q.) Do you have any new updates on the NCAA appeal?
"Everybody is anxious and I get asked about it every day. I wake up wondering, 'Hey, is this going to be the day?' We could hear at any moment or it could happen a month from now. I do not think the delay is necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. It is just the way the NCAA works."
Q.) Can you provide us with a progress report on the new John McKay Center? Click here for LIVE updates!
"We are right on schedule. The John McKay Center is going to open up a year from this August. Our senior associate athletic director Mark Jackson has done a phenomenal job of marshaling this project through. He went on a tour to check out the top facilities around the country and he has come back with some incredible ideas and information. We are going to do this thing right."
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Q.) How impressed are you by the Women of Troy's road run to the WNIT title game?
"This Women of Troy squad has won more games now than any women's basketball team since 1994. They wanted to extend the season and we were really supportive of that. They have had an incredible run and traveled all over the place. They have handled it all with great aplomb and played some outstanding basketball."
Q.) Have you fully resolved the off-court incident with Kevin O'Neill?"To make it perfectly clear, Kevin O'Neill is our men's basketball coach. There is no doubt about that. He and his wife realize they made a serious mistake in judgment. They have done everything they possibly could to apologize to everyone involved. There are some other requirements of his reinstatement, but he is fully engaged in accepting responsibility for what he has to do to make amends and to be a leader of young men. "
Q.) As we transition into the spring seasons, what has caught your eye?
"We have so many nationally-prominent spring sports at USC right now. Our swim teams just had top 10 NCAA finishes, with Katinka Hosszu winning three NCAA crowns and being named Swimmer of the Meet. Our men's volleyball team is ranked No. 1 and they are crushing opponents. The track team, which has another home meet this weekend, is full of high-caliber athletes. Women's water polo is defending its NCAA title. Men's and women's tennis boast the No. 1 players in the nation in Steve Johnson and Maria Sanchez, respectively. Baseball, golf, rowing... There is always something to watch. I hope everybody enjoys it as much as I do."
Q.) How difficult is the baseball rebuilding job going to be?"It is not going to be easy. It is different than when I was here in the 70's and we won five straight national titles. Tuition was $2,000 then and we did not have the scholarship limitations. With only 11.7 scholarships now, you have to be right on all your recruits. And, you hope they stay healthy. Frank Cruz has established a great recruiting base. Fundamentally, we are greatly improved. We would always love to win more games, but it is going to take a while."
Q.) Do you have any new updates on the NCAA appeal?
"Everybody is anxious and I get asked about it every day. I wake up wondering, 'Hey, is this going to be the day?' We could hear at any moment or it could happen a month from now. I do not think the delay is necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. It is just the way the NCAA works."
Q.) Can you provide us with a progress report on the new John McKay Center? Click here for LIVE updates!
"We are right on schedule. The John McKay Center is going to open up a year from this August. Our senior associate athletic director Mark Jackson has done a phenomenal job of marshaling this project through. He went on a tour to check out the top facilities around the country and he has come back with some incredible ideas and information. We are going to do this thing right."
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