USC Athletics | August 16, 2019

Former USC athletic director Mike McGee, who led the Trojan program for nine seasons, died today (Aug. 16) of natural causes at his home in Montrose, Colo.  He was 80.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Elizabeth City, N.C. (200 S. McMorrine St.).

McGee served as USC's athletic director from 1984 until mid-way through the 1992-93 season.  During his tenure, more than 50 Trojan teams finished in the Top 10 at their NCAA championships, including four that won NCAA titles.  USC football teams played in four Rose Bowls during his time.  In his first season (1984-85), the football and men's basketball teams both won Pac-10 crowns (the last time that happened was 1939-40).

At USC, McGee guided major increases in fundraising, ticket sales and television revenues, strengthened academic programming, added marketing and recruiting departments, developed a community relations program, renovated facilities, and established a drug testing and education program.  While at USC, he founded the Sports Management Institute to train future sports administrators.

McGee came to USC after four years (1980 to 1984) as Cincinnati's athletic director.  He left USC to become the athletic director at South Carolina, where he served for 12 years (1993-2004).  He began his administrative career as a special assistant at North Carolina.

He served on the NCAA Management Council, the organization's highest governing body, while at USC and South Carolina.

Before being an athletic director, McGee was the head football coach at East Carolina in 1970 and then at his alma mater, Duke, for eight seasons (1971-78).  He also was an assistant coach before that at Duke, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

McGee won the 1959 Outland Trophy as a senior at Duke, then played with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals for three years (1960-62) before a neck injury ended his career.

He is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, College Football, North Carolina Sports and Duke Halls of Fame.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ginger, and their four children, Kathy, Michael Jr., Matthew and Jerry, as well as 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.