USC football hiring director of AI, a first-of-its-kind move
USC football hiring director of AI, a first-of-its-kind move
Publish Date: 2026-06-10 11:24:00
Source Domain: www.usatoday.com
- The University of Southern California (USC) is set to make history by hiring Conor McQuiston as its first-ever director of artificial intelligence (AI) for college football.
- McQuiston, with experience in analytics from both the NFL and college football, will report directly to USC general manager Chad Bowden and is expected to be named to the post on June 10, 2026.
- USC believes it is the first college football program to establish a director of AI for football, an innovative approach that aligns with recent discussions by former LSU and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly.
- The hiring decision follows a $200 million gift from Mark and Mary Stevens to USC, which is designated for AI research, highlighting the university’s commitment to this field.
- USC’s football program, under head coach Lincoln Riley, plans to hire additional full-time staff to augment its analytics and research department.
- USC athletics director Jennifer Cohen is reported to be enthusiastic about integrating advanced AI to enhance the football program’s operations.
