One of the Big 12’s chief executives is leaving for the West Coast.

Ed Stewart, the conferences associate commissioner, is being hired as USC’s executive senior associate athletic director per Pete Thamel of ESPN. Stewart’s reported duties will include oversight of Southern Cal’s football program.

Stewart concludes 16 years of service in the Big 12. His ties to the conference go all the way back to 1994 when he was a captain for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Stewart reunites with head coach Lincoln Riley at USC. The pair worked together during Riley’s five seasons at Oklahoma. The Trojans recently announced their commitment to join the B1G conference.

Stewart has prior experience with conference realignment in the Big 12. That knowledge appears to be one reason USC hired him for the job.

“He brings a lot of experience with conference realignment, which is a huge piece,” according to a USC source. “His ability to be a leader in the transition over the next couple years will be critical.”

The Trojans are expected to make another hire to its hiring team soon.