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Patrick Capper Haden (born January 23, 1953) is an American former professional football player and college administrator. He was the athletic director at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles from August 2010 to June 2016. He played quarterback for the USC Trojans before playing professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 through 1981. He also played in the World Football League (WFL) for the Southern California Sun in 1975.

Key Information

Haden is a Rhodes Scholar, was a practicing attorney from 1982 to 1987, and was a partner at Riordan, Lewis & Haden, a private equity firm, from 1987 to 2010. He is also known for his work as a former sportscaster, beginning with CBS Sports in 1982, and ending his career in that field as a color commentator for NBC Sports' Notre Dame football coverage.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Westbury, New York, to working-class Irish American parents, Haden is the fourth of five children. He had a close relationship with his mother, Helen Haden, who told her children to "Live your life so that you have standing room only at your funeral."[1]

As a boy, Haden had a boyhood paper route, then worked at a shoe store where he also pushed accessories in order to earn an extra commission. He had the same mentality in sports, where he used smarts and toughness he gained from keeping up with his older brothers to compensate for physical shortcomings. By high school, his parents had moved to Southern California.[1]

Haden played high school football at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in La Puente, California, where he became starting quarterback.[1] He became close friends with teammate J.K. McKay, son of then-USC football coach John McKay; the two were opposites: J.K. was quick-witted and easygoing, while Haden was more reserved. Haden and McKay shared the CIF Southern Section Player of the Year award in 1970. When Haden's parents had to move again, he stayed with the McKays for his senior year of high school.[1] He was highly sought after and was recruited by many schools, including Notre Dame. Haden was inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in 1995.

College career

[edit]

Prior to College Football Haden and McKay won the CIF championship game in overtime against Lakewood High School. The game was played at the LA Coliseum, where Haden would go on to lead the Trojans to many victories.

Haden and J.K. McKay joined the highly regarded USC Trojans under head coach John McKay; they joined a group of friends in living at an apartment building just off campus.[1] At USC, he made it to three Rose Bowl appearances and won two national championships. In the final game of his college career, the 1975 Rose Bowl, he was named co-Most Valuable Player. Haden also was a recipient of the Today's Top V Award in 1975, which at the time honored five (now ten) senior student-athletes. He was put into the GTE Academic All-American Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1995. An athletic and academic stand-out, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship.[1]

In 1973, he threw for 1,832 yards with 13 TD vs 11 INT. In 1974, he threw for just 988 yards (in part due to 98 fewer pass attempts) but still threw 13 TD vs 11 INT.[2]

Professional career

[edit]

Haden played one season in the World Football League, its last, for the Southern California Sun, which allowed him to attend school in England at Oxford University under his Rhodes Scholarship. His decision to go to the United Kingdom for schooling hurt his NFL possibilities, as did a lack of height (5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)) and arm strength, and he dropped to the seventh round of the 1975 NFL draft.[3]

Haden made the Los Angeles Rams' roster in 1976 as the third quarterback, behind James Harris and Ron Jaworski. When both Harris and Jaworski were injured, Haden was pressed into duty in the second game of the season. Haden responded by playing mostly mistake-free football, letting running backs Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti shoulder the offensive load and passing only occasionally. Harris returned to the lineup as starting quarterback and Haden went back to a backup role. In a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Harris played poorly in a 20–12 loss, and Rams head coach Chuck Knox was ordered by team owner Carroll Rosenbloom to bench Harris in favor of Haden. This is documented in Knox's autobiography Hard Knox: The Life of an NFL Coach and William Rhoden's Third and a Mile: The Trials and Triumph of the Black Quarterback. At the time of the quarterback change, Harris was the top-rated passer of the National Football Conference. The NFL records show that Harris finished as the NFC's top-rated passer of 1976. Despite the change, the Rams went on to win the NFC Western Division title and a 14–12 upset of the defending NFC champion Dallas Cowboys in the opening round of the NFC playoffs, but the Rams fell to the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game.

The Rams revamped their quarterback position for the 1977 season. Harris and Jaworski were traded, and the Rams acquired veteran QB Joe Namath from the New York Jets. Namath started the first four games, but it was evident his knees couldn't take it anymore, so the Rams went back to Haden. The Rams took eight victories in the last 10 games, won the NFC West and made the playoffs again. Their first-round opponent was the Vikings at home in the rain, but the Rams lost 14–7 in the Mud Bowl. Haden's small hands impaired his ability to grip the wet muddy ball. Haden completed 14 of 32 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown with 3 interceptions while Viking QB Bob Lee was only able to complete 5 of 10 passes for 57 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

Haden was rewarded with the starting position from day one in 1978. The Rams started fast, winning their first eight games, but tailed off to 12–4, and won their third straight NFC West Division title. Haden threw a pair of touchdown passes and led the Rams to a 34–10 victory against the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs. The defending champion Dallas Cowboys walloped the Rams 28–0 in the 1978 NFC Championship Game on their way to Super Bowl XIII. Haden was voted the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club NFC Player of the Year of the 1978 season.

Haden began the 1979 season as the starter, but a broken finger midway through the season sidelined him in favor of Vince Ferragamo, who led the Rams to Super Bowl XIV.[4]

Because of Rams' coach Ray Malavasi's policy of giving an injured starter his job back, Haden began the 1980 season as the starter with Ferragamo as the backup. Haden was injured in the Rams season opener against the Detroit Lions. Ferragamo took over as the starter and didn't relinquish the job (despite Haden returning mid-season), passing for a then Rams-record 30 touchdown passes.

Ferragamo, however, bolted the Rams for the Canadian Football League. Haden went into the 1981 season as starter, but was injured midway through the season. After the season, while recovering from knee surgery and contemplating retirement, he got a call from CBS about a broadcast job and decided to take it.[1]

Broadcasting career

[edit]

After spending a few years at CBS, Haden was hired as the color commentator for NBC Sports' coverage of Notre Dame college football, and held similar duties for their Arena Football coverage from 2003 through 2006 and Fox Sports' Bowl Championship Series coverage in 2008. His position as the Notre Dame color commentator is ironic in that he, as USC's quarterback in 1974, helped orchestrate one of Notre Dame's greatest losses (and, conversely, one of USC's greatest wins, known as "The Comeback"). The Trojans won 55–24 despite trailing 24–0 at one point and 24–6 at halftime.[5] Haden admitted later that his decision to go to USC went against the wishes of his mother.[6]

Haden also was a color man for CBS Sports' college football coverage (being one of a three-man booth with former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian and play-by-play man Brent Musburger, and later working with Jim Nantz [as a color analyst on games, and a co-host in the studio with Nantz before that in 1985]), and provided color commentary for TNT's Sunday night football coverage and Westwood One's radiocasts, primarily working the Sunday night schedule which immediately followed his TV commitments (at the time, TNT and ESPN split the Sunday night games between them, with TNT broadcasting the first half of the season and ESPN the second half).

Haden also called some NFL on CBS games in 1988 and 1989 during the busier weeks of the 1988–1989 NFL season, when the network's seven announcing teams weren't enough to cover the network games.

Private equity career

[edit]

In 1987, he joined Riordan, Lewis & Haden, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles that focuses on making investments in growing, profitable businesses with $20 – 200 million in revenue. He has served as a director of a number of RLH portfolio companies including TetraTech, Systems Management Specialists, Data Processing Resources Corporation (formerly NASDAQ: DPRC), The Apothecary Shops, and Adohr Farms. Haden remained a partner at RLH until assuming the position of athletic director for the University of Southern California.

Athletic director

[edit]

Haden replaced Mike Garrett as the USC Trojans athletic director on August 3, 2010.[7] On September 8, 2014, he and USC football coach Steve Sarkisian were reprimanded by Pac-12 Conference commissioner Larry Scott for attempting "to influence the officiating, and ultimately the outcome of a contest" during the September 6 game with Stanford. Haden was fined $25,000.[8] On October 11, 2015, Haden placed Sarkisian on leave after a series of incidents culminating in the coach missing a practice during the season. The next day, Haden announced that Sarkisian had been fired.[9]

On February 5, 2016, Haden announced that he would be stepping down as USC's athletic director effective June 30.[10]

College Football Playoff Selection Committee

[edit]

Haden was one of 13 members of the inaugural College Football Playoff selection committee. In September 2014 Haden received criticism and calls to resign from the selection committee by charging onto the field in order to argue with officials regarding a series of penalties during the third quarter of USC's 13–10 victory against Stanford.[11][12]

Education

[edit]

Haden received a B.A., magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California, a J.D. from Loyola Law School[13] and a B.A. in economics from the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Community activities

[edit]

Haden has served on numerous nonprofit boards. He sits on the boards of the Rose Hills Foundation and the Fletcher Jones Foundation, and has also served on the boards of non-profit organizations including the University of Southern California, the Good Samaritan Hospital, Boys Town of Southern California, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Los Angeles, and the Crippled Children's Society of Los Angeles. He is former chair of the March of Dimes Reading Olympics in Los Angeles and the Boys Life National Illiteracy Campaign.

Haden is a board member for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Ronnie Lott and is awarded annually to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.[14]

Haden was awarded the Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission in 2003 for his community involvement.[15]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacks
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A Lng TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg Lng TD Sck Yds
1976 RAM 10 7 5-1-1 60 105 57.1 896 8.5 65 8 4 94.8 25 84 3.4 16 4 13 86
1977 RAM 12 10 8-2 122 216 56.5 1,551 7.2 58 11 6 84.5 29 106 3.7 23 2 17 151
1978 RAM 16 16 12-4 229 444 51.6 2,995 6.7 68 13 19 65.1 33 206 6.2 24 0 32 216
1979 RAM 10 10 5-5 163 290 56.2 1,854 6.4 50 11 14 68.1 16 97 6.1 17 0 21 178
1980 RAM 4 1 0-1 19 41 46.3 185 4.5 24 0 4 19.9 3 12 4.0 6 0 4 30
1981 RAM 13 11 5-6 138 267 51.7 1,815 6.8 67 9 13 64.4 18 104 5.8 16 0 28 227
Career 65 55 35-19-1 731 1,363 53.6 9,296 6.8 68 52 60 69.6 124 609 4.9 24 6 115 888

Playoffs

[edit]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing Sacks
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A Lng TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg Lng TD Sck Yds
1976 RAM 2 2 1-1 19 43 44.2 313 7.3 42 1 5 37.4 11 19 1.7 6 1 6 63
1977 RAM 1 1 0-1 14 32 43.8 130 4.1 24 1 3 26.8 3 27 9.0 13 0 1 12
1978 RAM 2 2 1-1 22 48 45.8 285 5.9 29 2 4 44.2 4 35 8.8 18 0 2 1
Career 5 5 2-3 55 123 44.7 728 5.9 42 4 12 35.3 18 81 4.5 18 1 9 76

References

[edit]
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Pat Haden

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Pat Haden (born January 23, 1953) is an American former professional football quarterback, attorney, broadcaster, and university administrator renowned for leading the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans to two national championships during his college career and for his subsequent role as USC's athletic director from 2010 to 2016. Born Patrick Capper Haden in , he moved to and starred at Amat High School in La Puente, where he completed 537 of 850 passes for 82 touchdowns over three years and shared the 1970 CIF 4-A Player of the Year award. At USC from 1972 to 1974, Haden threw for 3,288 yards and 33 touchdowns, ranking 13th in school history for passing yards and 14th for total offense (3,802 yards); he captained the team to national titles in 1972 and 1974 under coach John McKay, appeared in three Rose Bowls, and earned co-MVP honors in the 1975 Rose Bowl with 181 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 18-17 victory over Ohio State. A two-time Academic All-American with a 3.7 GPA, Haden graduated magna cum laude and from USC before becoming a Rhodes Scholar, studying at Oxford University from 1975 to 1978. Drafted by the in the seventh round of the 1975 NFL Draft, he played seven seasons with the team from 1976 to 1981, completing 731 of 1,363 passes for 9,296 yards and 52 touchdowns; he was selected to the 1977 and helped the win three straight division titles while competing in two NFC Championship Games. Following his playing career, Haden earned a from in 1982 and practiced as an attorney at Lillick, McHose & Charles in from 1982 to 1987. He then transitioned to , serving as a for college and professional football on CBS (1982–1990), TNT (1990–1997), NBC (1998–2009), Fox (2008), and radio networks including . From 1987 to 2010, Haden was a partner and managing director at the Riordan, Lewis & Haden, while also serving on USC's Board of Trustees starting in 1991. Appointed USC's seventh on August 3, 2010, Haden oversaw the program's operations during a period of NCAA sanctions and coaching transitions until his resignation on June 30, 2016, amid health concerns and institutional challenges; he also held faculty positions at USC's Marshall School of Business and Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Haden has been inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (1995), USC Athletic Hall of Fame, National High School Hall of Fame (1995), and CoSIDA Academic Hall of Fame (1988).

Early life and education

Early life

Patrick Capper Haden was born on January 23, 1953, in , to working-class Irish parents. He was the fourth of five children in a family that valued hard work and resilience, with his mother, Helen Haden, instilling principles of treating others fairly and outworking competitors. His father worked as a businessman selling roofing materials, supporting the household through frequent relocations that shaped Haden's adaptability. Raised in a modest environment, Haden contributed to the family finances early on with a newspaper route and a job at a shoe store, experiences that reinforced a strong amid the challenges of his parents' immigrant heritage. The family moved from New York to , when Haden was six, exposing him to new communities and fostering his interest in sports as a way to build connections. Later, they relocated to before his senior year of high school, where the emphasis on education and athletics in the home encouraged his pursuit of both academics and physical activities. Haden developed an early passion for football during his high school years at Bishop Amat Memorial High School in , where he lived with the family of USC coach John McKay after his parents' move. There, he emerged as the starting , completing 537 of 850 passes for 82 touchdowns over three years and sharing the 1970 CIF Southern Section 4-A Player of the Year award with J.K. McKay, relying on intelligence, toughness honed by older brothers, and determination to excel on the field despite not being the largest player. This period marked the beginning of his athletic journey, blending family-driven values with competitive drive.

Education

Pat Haden attended the (USC) from 1972 to 1975, where he balanced his athletic commitments with rigorous academic pursuits. During this period, he earned Academic All-American honors in 1973 and 1974, recognizing his excellence both on the football field and in the classroom. In 1975, Haden graduated magna cum laude and with a bachelor's degree in English from USC. Haden was selected as a Rhodes Scholar in 1975, one of the most prestigious international academic awards, which allowed him to pursue graduate studies at Oxford University. At Oxford, he earned a degree in in 1978. This overlapped with the early years of his professional football career, during which he temporarily deferred his studies to focus on the sport before completing his degree. Following his time at , Haden returned to the and obtained a degree from in in 1982. This legal education laid the foundation for his subsequent career in and .

Football career

College career

Pat Haden served as for the of Southern California's Trojans football team from 1972 to 1974 under legendary coach John McKay, earning three varsity letters during his tenure. Initially a backup to Mike Rae in 1972, Haden saw action in multiple games, including throwing a team-leading seven passes that season while contributing to USC's campaign and 42-17 Rose Bowl victory over Ohio State. He became the full-time starter for his junior and senior years (1973–1974), captaining the team in 1974 and playing a pivotal role in the Trojans' offensive schemes during an era of run-heavy play under McKay. In 1973, Haden emerged as a standout, leading the Pacific-8 Conference in passing yards with 1,832 and total offense with 1,988 yards (including 156 rushing), while throwing 13 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. The Trojans posted a 9-2-1 record, winning the Pac-8 title, before losing 21-42 to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Haden's performance that year showcased his accuracy and decision-making, completing over 55% of his passes in an offense bolstered by future NFL stars like Lynn Swann and Anthony Davis. The following season in 1974, he directed a 10-1-1 campaign (with a tie in the regular season and loss in the Rose Bowl), passing for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns, with his leadership helping secure USC's second national title in three years. A signature moment came in a 55-24 rout of rival Notre Dame on November 30, 1974, where Haden engineered a second-half comeback from a 24-6 halftime deficit, throwing three touchdown passes to spark 49 unanswered points. Haden capped his college career in the 1975 Rose Bowl, earning co-MVP honors alongside J.K. McKay in a dramatic 18-17 victory over Ohio State. He completed 12 of 22 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a crucial pass to J.K. McKay late in the game to secure the win and clinch the . Over his USC career, Haden amassed 3,288 passing yards and 33 touchdowns on 241 completions out of 468 attempts, ranking among the program's historical leaders in efficiency despite the era's emphasis on rushing. He also occasionally handled punting duties in select games, averaging around 35 yards per punt when called upon. His on-field contributions were complemented by academic excellence, earning him first-team Academic All-American selections in 1973 and 1974, as well as second-team All-Pac-8 honors as a senior. In recognition of his impact, Haden was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame the same year.

Professional career

Pat Haden was selected by the in the seventh round, 176th overall, of the 1975 NFL Draft out of the . As a late-round pick, he joined a quarterback room that included established veterans, positioning him initially as a developmental prospect behind James Harris and after Namath signed with the Rams in 1977. Haden made his NFL debut in 1976, appearing in limited action during his rookie season, and gradually earned more opportunities as injuries and rotations affected the depth chart. Over six seasons from 1976 to 1981, Haden appeared in 65 games for the , starting 55 of them while serving primarily as a backup and occasional starter to Namath in 1977 and from 1978 onward. His most notable full season came in 1978, when he started all 16 games, throwing for 2,995 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to a 12-4 record and an appearance. He was selected to the following his 1977 performance (1,551 yards, 11 TDs in 10 games). In 1979, despite starting only 10 games due to a midseason finger injury, Haden passed for 1,854 yards and 11 touchdowns, contributing to the ' 9-7 finish and a 21-19 divisional playoff win over the . In the 1978 playoffs, Haden started the divisional round victory over the Minnesota Vikings (34-10) and the NFC Championship loss to the (0-28). Injuries plagued his later years, including a broken finger in 1979 and issues that limited him to three starts in 1980 (Rams lost wild card 13-34 to ), though he started 10 games in 1981 (1,815 yards, 9 TDs) before undergoing surgery during the offseason. Contemplating his future amid ongoing health concerns, Haden retired from professional football in 1982 at age 29, having compiled 9,296 passing yards, 52 touchdowns, and a 69.6 over his career. Following his retirement, Haden transitioned directly into broadcasting, accepting a position as a color analyst for CBS Sports, where he began covering NFL games in the 1982 season.

NFL career statistics

Regular season
Passing Statistics
YearTeamGamesStartsCompletionsAttemptsYardsTDsINTsRating
1976LAR107601058968494.0
1977LAR1041222161,55111688.0
1978LAR16162294442,995131965.5
1979LAR11101632901,854111468.6
1980LAR4319411850419.9
1981LAR14101382671,81591370.1
Career65557311,3639,296526069.6
Rushing Statistics
YearTeamGamesAttemptsYardsAvgTDs
1976LAR1017392.30
1977LAR1020472.40
1978LAR16391042.72
1979LAR1125582.30
1980LAR45122.40
1981LAR1428652.30
Career651343252.42
YearTeamGamesStartsCompletionsAttemptsYardsTDsINTsRating
1976LAR2119562271429.5
1977LAR1114321401243.8
1978LAR2220451551345.7
Career54531335223939.3

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Pat Haden appeared in 65 regular-season games over seven NFL seasons from 1976 to 1981, all with the Los Angeles Rams, starting 55 of them.

Passing Statistics

YearTeamGames (GS)Completions/AttemptsYardsTouchdownsInterceptionsPasser Rating
1976RAM10 (7)60/1058968494.8
1977RAM12 (10)122/2161,55111684.5
1978RAM16 (16)229/4442,995131965.1
1979RAM10 (10)163/2901,854111468.1
1980RAM4 (1)19/411850419.9
1981RAM13 (11)138/2671,81591364.4
Career65 (55)731/1,3639,296526069.6

Rushing Statistics

YearTeamCarriesYardsTouchdowns
1976RAM25844
1977RAM291062
1978RAM332060
1979RAM16970
1980RAM3120
1981RAM181040
Career1246096

Playoffs

Haden appeared in five NFL playoff games during his career with the Los Angeles Rams, all as the starting quarterback. His postseason performances are detailed in the following table, focusing on passing statistics:
DateRoundOpponentResultCmp/AttYdsTDIntRate
1976-12-19Divisional Round@ DALW 14-1210/211520332.3
1976-12-26NFC Championship@ MINL 13-249/221611243.9
1977-12-26Divisional Roundvs MINL 7-1414/321301326.8
1978-12-31Divisional Roundvs MINW 34-1015/292092183.8
1979-01-07Divisional Roundvs DALL 0-287/1976039.9
Over these five games, Haden completed 55 of 123 passes for 728 yards, with 4 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, achieving a of 35.3.

Post-football business and media career

Broadcasting career

After retiring from the NFL in 1981, Pat Haden entered as a analyst for in 1982. He served in that role through 1990, providing color commentary alongside play-by-play announcers such as for various college games. During this period, Haden drew on his experience as a former USC quarterback to offer insights into Pacific Conference matchups and national contests. Haden continued his television work with Turner Sports (TNT) from 1990 to 1997, analyzing both and telecasts. In 1998, he joined as a , a position he held until 2009, notably serving as the lead analyst for Notre Dame games and other broadcasts, including key USC matchups like the 2005 USC-Notre Dame rivalry game. He also contributed to in 2008 for select college games. Additionally, Haden worked as a radio analyst for and , providing commentary on games starting in the early , including national coverage from 1990 onward. Parallel to his broadcasting commitments, Haden entered the field in 1987 as a partner at Riordan, Lewis & Haden, balancing the demands of on-air analysis with . By the late , as his role at intensified, he gradually scaled back broadcasting to focus more on business ventures, though he continued select assignments into the 2000s. His dual career showcased his expertise in football strategy, contributing to respected analyses across networks.

Private equity career

After practicing from 1982 to 1987, Pat Haden joined Riordan, Lewis & Haden (RLH Equity Partners), a Los Angeles-based , as a partner and managing director, a position he held until 2010. The firm, co-founded in 1982, specializes in investments in high-growth, lower middle-market companies, typically with annual revenues between $20 million and $150 million, focusing on sectors such as business services, healthcare, , and . Under Haden's tenure, RLH managed over $ in assets and executed investments in companies like The Apothecary Shops, a national specialty in the healthcare sector. Representative deals highlighted the firm's emphasis on Southern California-based enterprises with strong growth potential, including tech-enabled services and healthcare providers. During his time at RLH, Haden contributed to the firm's of partnering with teams to drive operational improvements and expansion, often targeting investments of $10 million to $50 million per company. The firm raised multiple funds during this period, including a $265 million second institutional fund in , which supported portfolio growth in competitive industries. Haden's involvement bridged his broadcasting experience with business acumen, leveraging networks from his USC and background to identify opportunities in media-adjacent and service-oriented sectors. Following his departure from RLH in 2010 to become USC's , Haden maintained involvement in the investment world through board seats at firms with ties. He served as a director at First Beverage Group, a privately held Los Angeles-based advisory and firm focused on the beverage industry, alongside roles at company TCW and engineering firm . These positions provided ongoing exposure to strategies and deal-making, with Haden earning significant compensation from them during his USC tenure. After retiring from USC in 2016, Haden returned to as an at Interlock Equity LP, a firm investing in middle-market opportunities. In this advisory capacity, he draws on decades of experience to support portfolio development and strategic guidance, continuing his focus on high-impact investments.

Administrative roles

Athletic director

Pat Haden was named the of the (USC) on July 20, 2010, succeeding , with his appointment effective August 3, 2010. As a former USC and longtime member of the university's board of trustees, Haden took over a program facing significant challenges from prior NCAA sanctions related to the case, including scholarship reductions and a postseason ban that had concluded but left lingering effects on recruiting and operations. During his tenure, Haden focused on restoring compliance, enhancing facilities, and expanding athletic offerings while navigating budget constraints imposed by the sanctions. Haden inherited Lane Kiffin as head football coach, who had been hired in January 2010, but made several high-profile hires to lead the program, including in December 2013 after firing Kiffin, and promoting to permanent head coach in 2015. Under his leadership, USC athletics addressed compliance issues from the Kiffin era. Haden managed the department's budget amid the scholarship limitations, which reduced available player spots by up to 10 per year through 2012, by prioritizing efforts that raised over $400 million for facilities and programs during his time in the role. Key achievements included overseeing major infrastructure improvements, such as the announcement and planning of a $270 million renovation to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in October 2015, which aimed to modernize the 1923 venue with enhanced seating, suites, and fan amenities while reducing capacity from 93,607 to 77,500. His tenure also saw USC athletic programs win 10 national championships. Haden also expanded USC's varsity sports by adding women's lacrosse, announced in November 2010 and beginning competition in the 2012–13 season, and supporting the growth of women's beach volleyball, introduced in 2012 during his tenure but achieved national prominence under his administration, including multiple championships. Haden announced his resignation on February 5, 2016, effective June 30, 2016, citing ongoing health concerns that included a pacemaker implant in 2015 and episodes of light-headedness. He agreed to remain involved for one additional year to oversee the initial phases of the Coliseum renovation project.

College Football Playoff Selection Committee

In 2013, Pat Haden was selected as one of 13 members of the inaugural (CFP) Selection Committee, announced on October 16 by the CFP organization, with his two-year term beginning for the 2014 season. As a former USC athletic director and quarterback, Haden brought extensive experience in college athletics to the group, which was tasked with evaluating and ranking teams based on performance metrics to determine the four playoff participants. The committee, chaired by athletic director Jeff Long, included a mix of current and former athletic directors, coaches, and administrators to ensure diverse perspectives in the selection process. Haden played a key role in the committee's work during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, contributing to the weekly rankings released starting November 4, 2014, which culminated in the selection of , , Florida State, and Ohio State for the inaugural playoff. The group met regularly to deliberate on team evaluations, with Haden dedicating approximately 20 hours per week to reviewing games and data, often watching footage during workouts and evenings to prepare thoroughly for discussions. This effort helped the committee navigate complex scenarios in the first year, such as comparing undefeated and one-loss teams, ultimately finalizing the playoff field on December 7, 2014. On October 30, 2015, during the second year of his term, Haden stepped down from the due to concerns, including recent hospitalizations that prompted his doctors to advise reducing amid the demanding weekly meetings. He expressed reluctance to leave but prioritized his well-being, stating, "With the weekly CFP meetings about to start and the required, I need to follow their advice." The CFP opted not to replace him, proceeding with 12 members for the remainder of the 2015 season rankings and beyond. Reflecting on the process after his departure, Haden emphasized the importance of key evaluation factors, noting that " mattered a lot and it should," as the committee used it alongside head-to-head results and other metrics to compare teams fairly, particularly in resolving ties between similarly performing programs. These criteria, outlined in the CFP protocol, helped prioritize conference champions and teams with challenging schedules over those with easier paths, ensuring selections reflected overall quality and competitiveness. Haden described the collaborative nature of the deliberations as akin to a "high school math class" where thorough preparation was essential to avoid being underprepared among passionate football experts.

Controversies

Administrative tenure issues

During Pat Haden's tenure as USC from 2010 to 2016, several controversies arose related to his oversight of the football program, particularly involving coach and compliance issues inherited from prior administrations. In August 2015, Sarkisian appeared intoxicated at the university's annual "Salute to " booster event, delivering a slurred speech that prompted widespread media attention and criticism. Haden issued a to Sarkisian, who attributed the incident to mixing alcohol with prescription medication, and the coach subsequently entered treatment while retaining his position. The situation escalated in October 2015 when reports emerged that Sarkisian had arrived at practice smelling of alcohol, leading Haden to place him on an indefinite leave of absence. Despite initially defending Sarkisian and opting against immediate termination after consulting medical experts who deemed the coach treatable, Haden fired him the following day amid mounting pressure from players, , and the media. Critics argued that Haden's handling reflected poor judgment in monitoring Sarkisian's off-field behavior, exacerbating instability in the program. Haden's administration also faced scrutiny over NCAA sanctions stemming from violations during Lane Kiffin's earlier tenure as head coach from 2010 to 2013. The penalties, primarily related to improper benefits provided to in the mid-2000s, included scholarship reductions that limited USC's recruiting through the 2014 season and contributed to on-field struggles. In September 2013, shortly after firing Kiffin, Haden met with NCAA officials to request leniency or vacation of the sanctions, but the request was denied, with the citing the severity of the original infractions. Unsealed documents in 2015 further revealed NCAA criticism of USC for hiring Kiffin despite his prior recruiting violations at , which Haden had downplayed as resolved. Additional criticism targeted Haden's hiring practices, with observers accusing him of favoring personal and professional connections over rigorous vetting. His selection of Sarkisian, a close associate from their time at the , was cited as emblematic of this pattern, especially given Sarkisian's history of alcohol-related issues predating his USC arrival. Similar concerns arose with other appointments, such as interim roles and staff choices perceived as prioritizing loyalty to Haden's network rather than merit-based qualifications, contributing to perceptions of within the athletic department. Haden's leadership was further complicated by recurring health challenges that led to absences during critical periods. In October 2015, he experienced light-headedness before USC's game against Notre Dame, requiring medical assistance on the field and briefly sidelining him amid the Sarkisian crisis. Haden, who had received a pacemaker in 2014 following heart-related episodes, underwent additional medical evaluations in early 2016, prompting questions about his capacity to provide consistent oversight during a turbulent season. These incidents, while not directly causing controversies, amplified concerns about continuity in athletic department management.

College admissions scrutiny

In 2019, Pat Haden came under federal scrutiny as part of Operation Varsity Blues, a nationwide investigation into a college admissions bribery scheme orchestrated by William "Rick" Singer. Prosecutors examined Haden's interactions with Singer, who had attempted to involve Haden—then a prominent USC alumnus and former —in facilitating admissions for wealthy clients by posing as athletic recruits. According to reports, Singer met with Haden and USC associate athletic director Donna Heinel (who was later charged in the scandal) in 2017, after Haden had left his USC role, and Haden subsequently emailed Heinel inquiring about admitting a female student from as a potential recruit, though no admission occurred. Haden has consistently denied any knowledge of or participation in Singer's fraudulent activities, stating he believed the discussions were legitimate. No charges were filed against Haden in connection with the probe. Separate but related concerns arose regarding Haden's leadership of the George Henry Mayr Foundation, a established in 1949 to provide scholarships primarily to USC students. Haden served as board chairman starting in 1999, during which he, his daughter, and his sister-in-law received approximately $2.4 million in compensation for part-time roles from 1999 to 2014, with Haden personally earning about $1.2 million. Federal tax records reviewed in a 2016 investigation revealed that scholarship awards declined sharply—from more than 20 annually in the early to just a handful by 2014—while the foundation's assets grew to around $25 million and administrative payouts increased. Allegations surfaced of potential fund diversion, as the foundation lacked a full-time staff, office, or website, raising questions about the propriety of the payments to Haden's family members amid diminishing charitable output. No formal charges resulted from this examination.

Community activities

Philanthropy

Pat Haden has directed much of his philanthropic activity toward education and athletics, drawing on his longstanding connection to the to support and programs for student-athletes and underprivileged youth. After retiring from professional football, Haden personally donated $25,000 in 2002 to help establish the John McKay Endowed Football Scholarship at USC, an initiative honoring the legendary coach and providing financial aid to football players. As the lead fundraiser for the endowment, Haden challenged his former teammates to match his gift and solicited a $25,000 donation from the , engaging other alumni and trustees to build the fund, ensuring sustained support for athletic . Haden chaired the George Henry Mayr Foundation, through which he supported USC scholarships and academic initiatives with personal gifts and grants. In 2016, reports revealed that Haden and his relatives received approximately $2.4 million in compensation from the foundation between 1999 and 2014 for board and advisory roles, prompting scrutiny over nonprofit governance and potential conflicts of interest. Haden has also contributed significantly to USC's academic initiatives, serving as a and of the Tradition & Innovation steering committee for the Dornsife of Letters, and Sciences. Through personal gifts and in the capital campaign, he helped secure nearly $200 million in pledges and donations by 2010 toward a $400 million goal, funding scholarships, faculty positions, and programs that promote access to higher education for diverse and underprivileged students.

Board memberships

Pat Haden has held numerous positions on corporate and nonprofit boards, reflecting his expertise in sports governance, , and business oversight. Following his tenure as USC's from 2010 to 2016, Haden served in an advisory capacity at the university from July 2016 to June 2017, working closely with the president on the $270 million renovation of the . Prior to that, he was a member of USC's Board of Trustees from 1991 to 2010, where he chaired the Academic Affairs and Student Affairs committees and led fundraising efforts for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. In the corporate sector, Haden served as a director at , Inc., an engineering and consulting firm, from December 1992 to March 2022, contributing to strategic oversight during periods of significant growth for the Pasadena-based company. He has served as a director of TCW Funds, Inc., since 2001, serving as its chairman from 2004 until at least 2024 and as vice chair as of 2025, guiding investment strategies for the Los Angeles-based firm. Additionally, Haden joined the board of First Beverage Group, a Los Angeles beverage company, in the 2010s. These roles have provided annual compensation ranging from approximately $360,000 each at and TCW in the mid-2010s, including fees, stock options, and other awards, underscoring the scale of his contributions to . On the nonprofit front, Haden has been and a director of the Fletcher Jones Foundation since the early 2000s, supporting grants focused on and community programs in . He has served as a director of the Rose Hills Foundation since 2009, aiding initiatives in , , and youth development. In sports-related governance, Haden is a board member of the Lott IMPACT Trophy, administered by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation, which annually recognizes college football's top defensive player for on- and off-field impact; he has been involved since the award's inception in 2004. He has served on the board of the L.A. Sports Council, promoting economic and community benefits through sports events, without compensation. Other advisory roles include membership on a Rhodes Scholarships selection committee and the board of A Better L.A., a nonprofit addressing urban issues, though these have been less active in recent years. Nonprofit board service has yielded modest fees, contributing to about $135,000 annually across multiple foundations in the . In private equity, Haden transitioned to an role at Interlock Equity in the 2010s after co-founding Riordan, Lewis & Haden, where he advised on investments in high-growth middle-market companies from 1987 to 2010. These positions have emphasized his focus on through university affiliations and health advocacy via foundation grants, while avoiding direct involvement in operational controversies.

References

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