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USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann Resigns
Lynn Swann, athletic director of USC, reacts during a college football game against Notre Dame on Nov. 24, 2018. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Only a couple weeks into the 2019 college football season, USC's athletics director, Lynn Swann, has resigned from his role.
Dave Roberts, who is currently the NCAA's Vice Chair for the Committee on Infractions, will become the USC's interim athletic director until a permanent replacement is named.
In a letter sent to staff and students, USC president Carol Folt wrote:
"Lynn has been a leader on and off the field at USC for nearly five decades, and he will forever be a valued member of the Trojan Family.
Lynn has led our Athletics Department to five national championships in five different women's and men's sports during his tenure. Our student-athletes' cumulative GPA for the past two years and our graduation rate of 86% last year were all-time highs for USC Athletics. We appreciate Lynn's leadership of the department over these past three years and will continue to be grateful for his historic contributions to USC."
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Former football player Lynn Swann watches warmups from the sideline prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Heinz Field on Sept. 20, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Swann began his USC career as a student and acclaimed wide receiver. He played on the university's football team from 1971 to 1974, including in 1972 when the Trojans went undefeated and won a national championship.
After graduating, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1974 and played for them for nine seasons, helping the team win four Super Bowls.
He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
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After retiring from professional sports, Swann was also a sports commentator for ABC Sports for 30 years.
In 2006, Swann ran, as a Republican, for governor of Pennsylvania but lost to Democrat Ed Rendell.
Swann was named USC's athletic director in April 2016 to fill the role after Pat Haden retired.
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