USC athletic director and fired coaches highly compensated

Lane Kiffin was fired as USC’s football coach after five games in 2013, but he was highly compensated going into what turned out to be the last of his four seasons with the Trojans.

Kiffin earned about $3.1 million in total compensation in 2012, according to USC’s federal tax return for that fiscal year.

The period covers July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. Records for 2013 are not available. USC provided the return in response to a request from The Times.

USC began the 2012 season ranked No. 1 in several polls but finished 7-6, including an embarrassing Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech. Kiffin was paid a base salary of $2,542,741. He earned $210,700 in bonuses and incentives, $300,713 in other reportable income, $25,000 in retirement and other deferred compensation and $19,039 in nontaxable benefits.

He was fired after the Trojans suffered a 62-41 loss at Arizona State last September.

Former Trojans defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, Lane Kiffin’s father, resigned after the 2012 season. But he earned about $1.9 million, including $5,676 in bonuses and incentives.

Pat Haden remained one of the nation’s most highly compensated athletic directors, earning about $2.4 million in total compensation.

Haden earned a base salary of $1,248,592, an additional $900,000 in bonuses and incentives, $242,824 in other reportable income, $25,000 in retirement and other deferred compensation and $23,660 in nontaxable benefits.

Former basketball coach Kevin O’Neill, who was fired in January 2013 during the 2012-13 season, earned about $1.8 million.