Former USC football star Lynn Swann was named as the school’s next athletic director on Wednesday.

He will take over the job on July 1 from fellow USC alumnus and ex-football player Pat Haden, who announced his retirement in February after serving in the position for six years.

Swann, 64, was hired after an extensive national search for candidates. He is the second consecutive athletic director at the school that has deep ties to the university but no executive experience running a major college athletic department.

The university retained Boston-based Brill Neumann Executive Search Consulting for fill the position. The firm had worked with USC President Max Nikias and the university on several other previous searches for top-level administrative positions.

“It was a national search and we collected background information on many, many candidates,” said Nicholas Brill, a principal at the search firm. “After interviewing a number of people, the university felt Swann has the best mix of experience and attributes for the position.”

Swann, a former wide receiver, played on USC’s undefeated National Championship team in 1972. During his professional career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team won four Super Bowls. Swann is a member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. He later became a broadcaster.

Swann has served on the boards of H.J. Heinz Co., Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and Hershey Entertainment and Resorts. Effective July 1, the university announced that he will only serve on the board of Fluor Corp. He had an unsuccessful run for governor of Pennsylvania as the Republican nominee in 2006.

Haden will remain with the university for one year to oversee fundraising efforts for renovations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One of Haden’s biggest accomplishments during his tenure was overseeing a $400 million fundraising effort.