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USC makes another strong personnel hire

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney02/04/25ErikTMcKinney
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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The USC Trojans continue to assemble an all-star staff in the personnel department as new General Manager Chad Bowden is set to bring in Max Stienecker as the Trojans’ executive director of personnel, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Stienecker and Bowden previously worked together at Cincinnati. He first served as a student assistant with linebackers and special teams before making his way to Director of Recruiting Strategy in June of 2018.

Stienecker most recently was Wisconsin’s director of player personnel for two years under head coach Luke Fickell after moving from the Bearcats to the Badgers with Fickell.

Stienecker graduated from Cincinnati in 2021 but is thought of as a rising star in this space. He was named one of On3’s 2022 rising star personnel staffers you need to know and one of 247’s 2023 30 Under 30. That year, he became the youngest director of player personnel in college football history.

Landing Bowden and pulling him away from Notre Dame was a strong statement in itself as that Trojans look to build a front office that can compete nationally when it comes to talent acquisition and retention.

Since his hiring, he’s landed Zaire Turner from Notre Dame as USC’s Assistant AD of Recruiting Operations. He also brought in Dre Brown from Illinois to serve as Executive Director of Scouting and Personnel. As with Turner and Brown, Bowden has extensive familiarity with Stienecker and the Trojans add another rising talent to the front office.

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz