Livengood Is Among Those on USC’s List

The committee conducting the search for a new athletic director at USC will need more time to prepare a list for school president Steven B. Sample. They had hoped to give a list to Sample on Friday but have fallen behind schedule.

However, The Times has learned that one of the stronger candidates is Jim Livengood, athletic director at Washington State.

“I have visited with members of the search committee, but I don’t know what process they are in right now,” Livengood said Wednesday night from Dallas, where he is attending the NCAA convention. “I have not talked to USC within the last week.”

Livengood, who has been the athletic director at Washington State since 1987, said it would be inappropriate to talk about the job. “I am happy where I am right now and my concern is with my own institution,” he said.

Livengood, 47, is a graduate of Washington State and Brigham Young. He was also athletic director at Southern Illinois in Carbondale from 1985-87.

Pat Haden, who heads the committee to find a replacement for outgoing Athletic Director Mike McGee, would not confirm any candidates. However, other prospects are believed to be Barbara Hedges, athletic director at Washington; Mike Garrett, former USC Heisman Trophy winner and USC associate athletic director; George Raveling, USC basketball coach; Don Winston, USC senior associate athletic director, and John R. (Bobby) May, athletic director at Rice.

Hedges has publicly said she wants to stay at Washington and sources say that Raveling is not interested.

Haden said the committee lost a few weeks of time because of the holidays and the ongoing NCAA convention, and will not meet again until Tuesday.

“Three of the committee members are at the convention and that’s something I didn’t count on,” Haden said. “Even after we meet Tuesday, we may still need some more time before the list is complete.”

Haden had previously contacted John Swofford, the athletic director at North Carolina, and Mike Reinfeldt, the chief financial officer of the Green Bay Packers, but both declined interest. Dave Maggard, the former California and current Miami athletic director, has also surfaced as a possible candidate.

May, 49, the athletic director at Rice the last four years and 1964 NCAA high hurdles champion, said in Dallas on Wednesday that he was probably a longshot.

Times sports editor Bill Dwyre contributed to this story.