Pitt AD Heather Lyke Named Potential Candidate for USC Job

The Athletic's Stewart Mandel floated Pitt Panthers athletic director Heather Lyke as a candidate for the same job at USC.

PITTSBURGH -- USC unexpectedly lost their athletic director last week amid allegations of sexual harassment and poor workplace culture within the athletic department under Mike Bohn's leadership. According to one college athletics insider, the Trojans should give a call to see if Pitt Panthers athletic director Heather Lyke would be interested. 

"One of my first calls would be to Washington AD Jennifer Cohen, one of the most respected names in the profession," The Athletic's Stewart Mandel wrote. "She would obviously bring West Coast familiarity. If it’s more important to have someone with Big Ten or SEC experience, there’s Washington State’s Pat Chun, who spent 15 years at Ohio State; Texas A&M’s Ross Bjork, who spent five years at UCLA; or Pitt’s Heather Lyke, who spent 15 years at Ohio State."

Lyke was asked following a presentation about the in-progress Victory Heights development project if she and the school had discussed a contract extension to keep her in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future. 

"No, there is nothing new," Lyke said. 

"We plan on keeping her for a very long time," Pitt athletics spokesperson E.J. Borghetti added.

Pitt signed Lyke to a six-year contract when she arrived in 2018, meaning her contract is set to expire in 2024. As of 2021, Lyke was the third-highest-paid employee in the school, with a salary of $777,000.08. Only football head coach Pat Narduzzi and men's basketball head coach Jeff Capel earned more that year. 

Because USC is a private university, they are not required to disclose Bohn's salary publicly. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi Named Top 20 Coach

Pitt Makes Four-Star DB Terhyon Nichols' Top Six

Kenny Pickett Expects Big Things From Pitt Football in 2023

Kickoff Time for Pitt-Notre Dame Announced

ACC Changes Revenue Sharing Structure

Report: Local Four-Star LB Sets Visit to Pitt

• Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt