Lincoln Riley reacts to USC hiring new AD Jen Cohen

On Monday, USC announced former Washington athletic director Jen Cohen will be the school’s new AD. Just 24 hours later, USC football head coach Lincoln Riley gave his thoughts on the hire.

“Jen is fantastic,” Riley said. “Known a lot about her just in this business for the last several years. Friends with a lot of the people that have worked with her. And couldn’t have come more highly recommended. Pretty obvious with the job she’s done there at Washington and not just what she’s done, but how she’s done it.”

Cohen boasted several enormous achievements since taking over at Washington in 2016. The most relevant was Cohen’s effort to secure a place in the Big Ten for the Huskies in 2024. Obviously, Cohen will undergo the same transition at USC.

Conference realignment is just one feather in Cohen’s cap.  In 2022, the Washington athletic department recorded its highest-ever, department-wide NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR), of 92. Per the latest release, eight of UW’s teams led the Pac-12 Conference in GSR, as well. Moreover, UW football posted a record Academic Progress Rate of 999.

Riley is thrilled about the new member of the Trojans family.

“A tremendous hire. We got a chance to connect a little bit this morning, which is great. Looking forward to getting to know her well and beginning this partnership, which I think is going to be great,” Riley said.

Cohen will replace Mike Brohn, who served as the USC athletic director from 2019-23. Brohn resigned in May, claiming he suffered from health issues. However, reports arose, alleging USC had launched an internal investigation into the culture that Bohn had overseen.

USC president Carol L. Folt has full confidence in the culture that Cohen will bring to the Trojans.

“Jen is an experienced, engaged, and steadfast leader who takes a student-centered approach in building and running an athletics program. And, she has built a reputation as a fierce competitor who wants to win in every sport the right way,” Folt said in a written statement.

“We are experiencing an unprecedented transformation in college athletics, and Jen has the strategic vision and experience to lead USC Athletics through this historic time which includes joining America’s premier conference, the Big Ten, and hosting several venues for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There has never been a more exciting or important period in the history of USC athletics.”

Hopefully for Riley, that excitement translates to wins. On Aug. 26, USC will square off against San Jose State in its season opener.

On3’s Dan Morrison also contributed to this article.