The State of Troy | April 7: Athletics West Milestone, Spring Sports Highlights & The TIME Is Now

Trojan Family,

Our spring athletics season is in full swing, and while the world of college athletics never really stops, there is no busier time of year than the intersection of winter championships and spring conference competition.

Much has happened at USC and across college athletics since my last letter. In this month's State of Troy, I want to celebrate our spring wins, highlight some fall opportunities, and recognize your continued support of USC Athletics.

Winning the Era, Together

When we announced our efforts to Win the Era, Together in the fall, we had four key goals in mind: complete the Athletics West Campaign; fund new scholarship endowments; invest in excellence through the Trojan Victory Fund; and activate the Trojan Business Network for NIL opportunities. Each area has seen substantial progress in recent weeks, and I want to recognize some areas of high impact.

Athletics West

I'm thrilled to announce that last week, we reached the $200 million mark towards Athletics West. This is an incredible milestone made possible by the passionate pride and unmatched generosity of the Trojan Family, and it showcases the true power of USC – when we work together, there's nothing we can't do.

Recently, Ted Jones became our ninth cornerstone donor toward Athletics West, leaving just two remaining cornerstone opportunities to reach our original goal of 11. We have also received gifts toward Athletics West from the following individuals and families: Michael and Jill Adler; Scott Boras Family; Scott C Brittingham '88 and Ella M Brittingham '92; Sue Cimbaluk; Glenn Irani Family, Martin Irani Family, Lillian Irani Mueller Family; Bret and Catherine Johnsen; Doris T. Luster; Katie Milias; and an anonymous donor.

Our progress on the entire Athletics West campaign has been incredible to watch unfold in real time. Construction continues on a new stadium at Dedeaux Field, including a team clubhouse, permanent fan amenities, and premium seating areas, while the focus on Bloom has shifted to building interiors ahead of a full opening this summer.

These investments do more than enhance recruitment and performance – they create an environment where Trojans can thrive holistically, setting them up for success in the classroom, in competition, and in the community long after their athletic careers are complete.

We have an additional $25 million to raise to reach our ambitious goal of $225 million, and additional naming opportunities remain available for both Bloom and Dedeaux.

Fund New Scholarships

We have also received transformational gifts supporting scholarship endowments, which are essential to securing the future of USC Athletics. In addition to an anonymous endowment gift toward men's and women's tennis and another anonymous gift pledge to USC Athletics' general scholarship fund, the David X. Marks Foundation contributed to general athletics scholarship support, while the Fritz Burns Foundation established four new scholarships in soccer, lacrosse, and men's and women's tennis.

Additionally, our baseball program received a planned gift endowment from Sheri Semon Lietzow and Rob Lietzow and a scholarship endowment gift from the Edward and Margaret Bredenbeck Estate, and our track and field program received a planned gift endowment from Lynn T. Krause.

Each of these commitments brings us closer to our goal of creating 100 new scholarships by the 2028 Olympic Games and expanding opportunity for generations of Trojan student-athletes.

Invest in Excellence

While endowment gifts represent an investment in long-term excellence, a strong annual fund is critical to our ability to recruit, retain, and develop elite student-athletes and staff, and to compete for championships every year. I am proud to share that the Trojan Victory Fund has already increased by more than 770 percent compared to all of last year.

Just as important as the growth in giving is the growth in participation. So far this year, we have welcomed a 53 percent increase in first-time donors to USC Athletics compared to all of last year. We are especially grateful to welcome 21 Trojan Champions, including Joey and Nicole Buss; Sue Cimbaluk; Jen Cohen and Family; Len and Carolyn Cole Family; David and Geri Eisen; Dan Floriani and Family; Bret and Catherine Johnsen; John and Michelle Katnik; Kenneth and Stefanie Kay; Randy Kinkle; Mark Kolokotrones; Duncan R. and Irene Lee; William R. Matteson; Tom and Lillian Oliveri; Marshall Silberberg; Chad Tons Family; Trojan Management, Jimmy DeSisto and Joe Tedeschi; Karen Urban; Christopher Warmuth and Mary Anne Fontana; Ed and Colleen Whittemore; and Ruth Harvey Zommick. Together, this group is growing and excited to continue increasing support for our student-athletes.

Every gift matters, and every donor makes a difference. Whether contributing for the first time or investing at the highest levels, the collective impact of the Trojan Family is what allows us to win in this new era. While we are proud of this progress, there is still important work ahead as we pursue our goal of building a top-three annual fund in the Big Ten.

Activate NIL

Since July, USC student-athletes have engaged in more than 250 third-party NIL deals with more than 80 businesses. While engagement spans nearly every program, we are working to ensure all 23 programs secure NIL deals by the end of the year.

Athlete influencer marketing and NIL opportunities create meaningful value for both athletes and brands. If you're interested in partnering with a student-athlete or learning more about how your business or brand can get involved, please fill out this form and review the rules education available on our website.

Additionally, nearly 55 percent of these deals are with women's student-athletes. These engagements provide life-changing opportunities for our student-athletes, and we are eager to keep building an NIL infrastructure that helps Trojans grow their personal brands, leverage USC's global brand, and maximize their NIL opportunities.

Trojan Family, none of this is possible without your generosity. As we work to Win the Era, Together, we hope to inspire every Trojan to support in whatever way they can. Whether you've purchased a ticket, tuned in on television, shared on social media, or donated to the Trojan Athletic Fund, you've helped us win, and we are incredibly grateful for your support.

I also want to encourage you to check out our new website for the Trojan Athletic Fund, which we refreshed this year to better engage our fans and better support our student-athletes. TAF's refresh includes several changes designed to improve stewardship and recognition of our loyal and generous supporters, and these changes are detailed in full at TrojanAthleticFund.com.

Spring Sports Updates

After defeating then-top-ranked Stanford in late March to take over the No. 1 ranking in the country, women's water polo knocked off UCLA at home over the weekend and remains No. 1 as they head into the championship season. They'll travel to Berkeley for the MPSF Championships on April 10 before the NCAA Championships begin April 24.
Women's golf is ranked No. 2 nationally and has won four straight tournaments. Head coach Justin Silverstein recently earned his 30th career win, while Jasmine Koo, Kylie Chong, and Catherine Park have all earned individual titles this spring.
Baseball is in the hunt to host a regional in their first season back at Dedeaux Field. Their early success has been the best story in college baseball, as the No. 14 Trojans set a new program record for the best start to a season (19-0), tied the program record (set in 1955) for consecutive games won, and were the last remaining undefeated program in the sport. We are proud of the program and grateful to our fans for coming to Dedeaux to cheer our team on all season long. While many of the fan amenities remain under construction, the support has been second to none, from weekend home series to midweek games, where we've sold more than 3,700 tacos on Taco Tuesday!
Men's track and field's Garrett Kaalund won the 200-meter national title at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, setting a collegiate and American record of 19.95, just .03 seconds off the world record.
Beach volleyball (No. 4), men's volleyball (No. 4), women's tennis (No. 12), and rowing (No. 22) round out nine Trojan teams currently ranked in the top 25 nationally.

The TIME is Now

In February, we wrapped up our 2026 USC Football season ticket renewal process, and I want to thank the thousands of Trojan fans who renewed their tickets ahead of next season. Your unwavering loyalty and support of our football program are vital to our continued success.

Currently, new season tickets are on sale for 2026, and we couldn't be more fired up for the season ahead. The 2026 squad features both the top-ranked recruiting class and the most returning starters of any team in the country.

We're also excited about the staff we've built this offseason. We are proud to welcome defensive coordinator and NFF College Football Hall of Famer Gary Patterson, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, and safeties coach Paul Gonzales, and we have also elevated Skyler Jones to defensive tackles coach.

As spring practice wraps up, the program is focused on investing as much time as possible into player and team development. We've revamped our offseason program for increased player development days, lifts, team runs, walk-throughs, position meetings, and more, with our full focus on TIME – Together Investing More Everyday.

With our returning experience, incoming talent, and exciting schedule, the Time is Now for USC Football, and we are eager to compete for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth next season.

Fan Appreciation Day/Swim with Mike

We know the Trojan Family is our greatest competitive advantage, and just as our football program is investing more time in development this offseason, we also want to continue to invest in better engaging our fans.

In that spirit, USC Football will host a Fan Appreciation Day on April 11 at 9 a.m. on Brittingham Field near Heritage Hall. Beginning at 10 a.m., we will welcome fans to campus for autograph signings and photo opportunities with our football student-athletes, as well as other activations and activities for fans of all ages.

We hope fans will remain on campus throughout the day for several important events. The 45th annual Swim with Mike, which has partnered with USC Athletics since 1981 to provide scholarships for physically challenged athletes, begins at 7:30 a.m., and the football team will join the event at 11 a.m. Additionally, baseball will host Kids Day at Dedeaux Field vs. Iowa at 2 p.m., and Lacrosse celebrates Senior Day at 1 p.m. vs. Ohio State in Rawlinson Stadium. Both events are free of charge.

The finish line for 2025-26 is in sight, and graduation is just around the corner. The excitement for 2026-27 continues to build, but we remain focused on finishing the year strong, in the classroom and in competition.

Let's continue to work together to build on the legacy of excellence that sets us apart. When we do that, nothing can stop the Trojan Family.

Fight On,

Jen Cohen
Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics