• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 15, 2025

USC Poaches Notre Dame Football GM Chad Bowden With $1 Million Salary

The Trojans announced their hire for a position that is gaining major importance in college sports.

USC football
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

USC has nabbed a key figure from Notre Dame’s run to the national championship game.

The Trojans announced Friday that they’ve hired former Notre Dame football general manager Chad Bowden to the same position.

USC will be paying Bowden about $1 million per year, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Front Office Sports. That apparently more than triples his salary with the Irish. (Because USC and Notre Dame are private schools, their contracts are not public records.)

The salary figure was first reported by the website Football Scoop.

The big payday represents the outsized significance that the GM role has taken in college sports. Programs are now grappling with how to recruit and pay players from a combination of revenue sharing—on the horizon in 2025—and NIL (name, image, and likeness) payments.

Big names have been taking on the position in recent months. Adrian Wojnarowski stunningly stepped down from his role as top NBA insider at ESPN to become the men’s basketball GM at St. Bonaventure, his alma mater. Former four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Andrew Luck also returned to his alma mater to become GM of Stanford football. 

“First off, it’s overdue. College basketball and football is just as competitive as the NFL and NBA and no team would ever not have a GM, let alone an entire front office,” Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel told Front Office Sports

“The idea of a coach handling all of the responsibilities was always outdated. With transfer portal and NIL you have a salary cap issue and constant movement of players. You used to sign 25 kids and those were basically your kids for the next 4-5 years. Now you’re not just watching high school players—you’re watching other college teams. There’s way more volume and complexity.” 

Wetzel noted that Nick Saban “kind of started this” by staffing a whole scouting department at Alabama that included a phalanx of former coaches. 

“You’re not going to ask Andy Reid to scout college football players while he’s preparing for a game that weekend, so what sense does it make to ask Ryan Day to do that with recruiting high school players during the season?” Wetzel said. 

Last year, Bowden rebuffed a hiring attempt by Michigan to stay at Notre Dame. Bowden is no stranger to the GM role: He is the son of former Reds and Nationals GM Jim Bowden. 

“We are very excited to welcome Chad Bowden to our staff,” USC head coach Lincoln Riley said in a statement. “His outstanding body of work in recruiting and roster management is recognized throughout the country. With the support of Jen Cohen and the administration, Chad’s hire is both vital to the future of our program and sends a strong message about the direction of USC Football. We’re excited for him to arrive and hit the ground running.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian waits to lead his team out of the tunnel ahead of the Longhorns' game against the Baylor Bears, Saturday, Sept. 23 at McLane Stadium in Waco.

Is a Texas Takeover About to Hit the SEC, On and Off..

The Longhorns are favored to win the SEC in their second year in the conference.
Georgia takes the field for the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

SEC Lands Starring Role in Netflix College Football Docuseries

Netflix brings its sports storytelling to the heart of SEC football.
Cal Raleigh

Home Run Derby Came Down to a 1-Inch Hawk-Eye Measurement

One expert is skeptical that the measurement could be that precise.

Featured Today

May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
May 15, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; United States Capitol seen as People rally outside the Supreme Court before justices hears oral arguments in Trump v. CASA, Inc. At issue in the case is if the Supreme Court should stay the district courts' nationwide preliminary injunctions on the Trump administration’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.

Pro-NCAA Bill Takes First Step Toward Being Introduced on House Floor for..

It could be the first bill of its kind to make it to the House floor.
July 14, 2025

Lane Kiffin: ‘Doesn’t Seem’ Like CFB Revenue-Sharing Cap Works Very Well

The outspoken Ole Miss football coach isn’t impressed with revenue-sharing guidelines.
July 15, 2025

Georgia’s Kirby Smart Says Money Is Making Players Too Comfortable

The football coach is concerned about the revenue-sharing era.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 14, 2025

SEC’s Sankey Is ‘Fine’ With Big Ten’s Differing View on CFP Expansion

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey won’t commit to a 2026 CFP format.
July 14, 2025

SEC’s Greg Sankey: Conference Not Sold on Private Equity—for Now

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he’s taken PE meetings.
July 11, 2025

NCAA: March Madness Expansion to 76 Teams ‘Still Viable’ for 2026

Negotiations continue with media rights holder CBS and TNT Sports.
The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
July 10, 2025

Athletic Departments Express Renewed Interest in PE in Wake of House Settlement

Schools now have more expenses—and are looking for creative solutions.