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New USC AD Mike Bohn Impresses During His Official Introduction

Bohn has previous experience working in the Pac-12 from his time leading Colorado's athletic departmentUSC

New USC AD Mike Bohn "hit all the right notes in trying to win over his new environment" at his introductory press conference, according to Adam Grosbard of the L.A. DAILY NEWS. USC President Carol Folt at Bohn's intro on Thursday "repeatedly emphasized his experience, as well as the energy and passion he brings to the job." Asked if finding someone from outside the USC bubble was important to her, Folt said that she "wanted to find the best candidate, period." Grosbard notes a "new way of thinking would be a good change of pace" for the athletic department. Bohn, the former AD at Cincinnati and Colorado, on Thursday "did his best to focus on the department as a whole, and not the football team only." But the specter of the football program was "inescapable" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/8). In L.A., Ryan Kartje writes Bohn did his "best to ingratiate himself into an institution otherwise leery of outsiders, hitting all the right notes." He is also "no stranger to stepping in as an outsider." He had "no ties" to Colorado or Cincinnati "before taking the reins." Bohn said that "fresh perspective" could be "very, very powerful." That is the bet that Folt is "making in Bohn, as she attempts to usher in a new era at USC" (L.A. TIMES, 11/8).

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES: In L.A., Mark Whicker writes, "Bohn won't just be the face of USC athletics, but the voice." He "brings a conciliatory reputation, an open-door policy and a hunger for opinions, thus fulfilling the major requirement." He is "not Lynn Swann." Whicker: "USC learned more about Bohn's aspirations in 10 minutes than it had in Swann's three years." Swann "raised a Steel Curtain against the outside world" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/8). Also in L.A., Dylan Hernandez notes Swann "never presented a clear philosophy." In retrospect, his "ambiguous comments were a warning about what was to come." Folt and Bohn in their first appearance together were "able to articulate their vision for the athletic department in a way Swann never could" (L.A. TIMES, 11/8). In Bohn, USC is getting an AD who will be out front -- not the reclusive, bunkered types who have run USC athletics over the last two decades. AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco described Bohn as one of his confidantes among ADs in the conference. Bohn's background at Colorado will also give him a head start on building relationships around the conference (Michael Smith, SBJ College).

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