Cahill Leaving His Post as USD Athletic Director

SAN DIEGO —  Father Patrick Cahill, citing a desire to spend more time in community relations rather than with college athletics, announced Tuesday he is leaving his post as University of San Diego athletic director.

Cahill, 55, is leaving USD to accept the invitation of his religious order--the Viatorian Fathers and Brothers--to become an associate pastor at Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas, with residence at Gorman High School.

Applications to fill the vacancy at USD will be accepted immediately.

“It was a very difficult decision for me, and is was not made without regrets,” Cahill said. “To anyone who asks, I say honestly that the athletic director’s job at USD is the best athletic job in the country. With people like Dr. (Author) Hughes (president of USD), Tom Burke (vice president of student affairs) and virtually every person at the Sports Center, I found always great support and a sense that athletics, its value and our philosophy of it are things that other universities can envy.”

Cahill has been athletic director at USD since 1979. Before that, he was athletic director at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Ill., for 16 years, and president and principal at the school for 2 years.

Cahill said he has been thinking about changing jobs for the past six months, but only seriously began thinking about it a month ago when the Las Vegas position became available.

“I’ve been involved with high school and college kids for the last 25 years, and I’ve enjoyed it,” Cahill said. “I thought it would be great to get into some other parts of work in the priesthood. I’ve been living here alone at USD for nine years, and I thought it would be a good time for a change.

“If I waited another four or five years, it might be too late for me to accomplish anything else. I’ll be dealing with people in hospitals and people at weddings and helping counsel people. It will all be new to me, and it will be exciting.”

Cahill will remain at USD at least through Aug. 15.