Seven Are Among the Leading Candidates to Take Over for McGee at USC

As an outstanding quarterback at USC in the early 1970s, Pat Haden did what it took to get the job done.

He carried that trait into the classroom, where he became a Rhodes Scholar, and into the NFL, where he became the Rams’ quarterback, although he was considered too short by pro standards.

Haden is in charge of an altogether different task today, one that is as challenging as any before. He is chairman of a search committee that is helping find a replacement for outgoing Athletic Director Mike McGee.

Haden, a lawyer and member of USC’s board of trustees, has declined to discuss candidates, but said last week that his group was actively recruiting.

“The best person might be someone who does not even want the job,” Haden said. “That person might have to be persuaded.”

No matter what, the person has to pass muster with President Steven Sample, who will hire the new athletic director. Haden said Sample might even reject the candidates on the search committee’s list.

But considering how the school forced football coach Larry Smith to resign and then hired John Robinson on New Year’s weekend, it seems the search committee will be taken seriously, if only for the fact that it is well connected with the school’s powerful boosters.

The alumni, who donate thousands to the school each year, are said to want an athletic director within the Trojan family.

Here is a list of some of the candidates whose names have been whispered in Heritage Hall, USC’s athletic department:

Don Andersen--As executive director of the Freedom Bowl, Andersen was criticized for quickly offering Fresno State a berth in this year’s game at Anaheim Stadium. Now he is being praised for the decision. Well, perhaps not at USC. The Bulldogs came out in large numbers, then embarrassed the Trojans on the field in what was Smith’s last game as USC coach. Andersen once worked as a USC sports information director. He said he is happy running the Freedom Bowl, but acknowledged that he would be interested in the athletic director’s position, if asked. He said recently that he had not been asked.

Craig Fertig--Has all the credentials to satisfy the alumni, but is not considered a serious prospect. Fertig was a USC quarterback in the early 1960s, was an administrator in the 1980s and has coached football at Oregon State. The Fertigs are some of the Southland’s biggest USC fans. Fertig’s nephew, Todd Marinovich, had a short-lived and controversial career at USC.

Mike Garrett--Currently the associate athletic director, Garrett won the Heisman Trophy in 1965 as a USC running back. He joined the athletic department in December of 1990. Garrett oversees the department’s financial affairs, personnel, contract compliance, football scheduling and corporate sponsorship. He was director of business development at Forum and was involved in Forum boxing. Garrett has a law degree from Western States, and played eight season with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers. He played in Super Bowls I and IV. Garrett worked for the San Diego District Attorney’s office as a youth counselor. He was once considered a front-runner for the job as McGee’s hand-picked replacement. But sources who asked not to be identified said some officials are concerned about his lack of experience in heading a department. Garrett was said to be campaigning on a theme of changing football coaches, but once that change happened, he lost some of his impact.

Barbara Hedges--Once a senior associate athletic director at USC, Hedges has been Washington’s athletic director for 1 1/2 years. She is considered a strong prospect and is well respected in the NCAA. Unfortunately, Hedges is embroiled in one controversy after another at Washington, where the Husky football program is being investigated by Pacific 10 officials for allegations of illegal recruiting and booster payoffs to players. Hedges is said to want to return to USC, but cannot leave Washington in its current state of affairs. She told The Times during the Freedom Bowl that she is not interested in the job.

Sam Jankovich--Now that he has been released as general manager of the New England Patriots, Jankovich’s name has been added to the list. Before his tenure with the Patriots, Jankovich was athletic director at Miami. And before that, he was well respected at Washington State. Insiders from Seattle suggested this scenario Monday: Jankovich would replace Hedges at Washington, allowing Hedges to return to USC.

George Raveling--A highly respected basketball coach, Raveling is not really a member of the Trojan family, even though he has coached USC since 1984. Still, Raveling is well liked within Heritage Hall. He has brought Trojan basketball to the edge of respectability, and has dominated UCLA in recent years, although the Bruins had the better-known players. Raveling, a past president of the Black Coaches Assn., is outspoken on issues affecting minority athletes. He told officials he was not interested in leaving coaching for an administrative job. But sources say Haden’s group has been pressuring Raveling to reconsider.

Don Winston--A senior associate athletic director, Winston came to USC in 1974 as director of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He transferred to Heritage Hall in 1983. Although he is a mainstay in the department, some suggest he is not the heavyweight Trojan boosters are demanding.