Washington announced that Chun began his duties today. He served as AD at Washington State for six years.

READ: Reports: Oregon State, Washington State finalize settlement with outgoing Pac-12 teams

“It is truly an honor for my family and I to join the University of Washington family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the University,” Chun stated in a release. “I am grateful to President (Ana Mari) Cauce for the opportunity and will work closely with our campus partners, our coaches and our staff to help our student-athletes have an incredible experience at UW. Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!”

The current president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and co-chairs the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, Chun has over two decades of experience in college athletics.

He became the first Asian-American athletics director to lead a Power Five program upon his appointment at Washington State in 2018.

READ: Cincinnati hires Brad Wittke as chief of staff

Chun oversaw Washington State when he “was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, ten different WSU sports programs made NCAA tournament appearances and the school won six Pac-12 Championships” and led the Cougars to “record levels of donor support.”

Chun was appointed to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee earlier this year.

“I am excited about forming an elite partnership and special relationship with Pat Chun. It was critical for us to hire an extraordinary leader who is all about the W.  Pat is about work, winning and the state of Washington. He is someone who is extremely knowledgeable and on the cutting edge of the new frontier of college football. Most of all, he is a proven winner. He knows what it takes to compete and win consistently at the highest levels. And he brings intimate knowledge of the Big Ten from his time at Ohio State. I look forward to sharing ideas together, to learning together, to winning together and to bringing multiple championship trophies to Montlake together,” Washington head coach Jedd Fisch stated in a release.

READ: SEC’s 2025 schedule format features 8-game conference slate

Chun also worked at Ohio State from 1997-2012 elevating as high as Executive Associate Athletics Director. After the Buckeyes Chun led Florida Atlantic for five-plus years.

“Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience – from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes. He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I’m so happy he’ll be joining us to lead UW Athletics into the future,” Washington University President Ana Mari Cauce stated in a release.

The post Washington names Washington State’s Pat Chun new AD appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Nebraska interim university president Chris Kabourek announced the hiring less than a week after previous athletics director Trev Alberts departed for Texas A&M.

READ: CFP, ESPN reach new media rights agreement

“Joining the Nebraska family is truly an honor,” Dannen stated in a release. “My family and I are humbled by the opportunity to be part of such a proud athletics program, institution, community and state. Growing up in Iowa, I watched a lot of Nebraska football on Saturdays with my family. I’ve spent a lot of time in the state and I’ve found that we share a similar approach to life, work and sports: Work hard, stay humble, compete and expect to win. There is a storied tradition at Nebraska, but more work to be done. I truly believe our best years are ahead of us. I couldn’t be more grateful to Interim President Chris Kabourek for this opportunity. Chris has championed an inspiring vision for excellence across the University of Nebraska and he and I are completely aligned on where Nebraska needs to go in the future. I look forward to doing my part to helping Nebraska win championships across the board, graduate our student-athletes and elevate the world-class reputation of the University of Nebraska. I can’t wait to arrive in Nebraska and get to work.”

Dannen was originally appointed Huskies athletics director in October 2023. He made the move from Tulane where he led an overhaul of the program.

Dannen had been athletics director at Tulane since 2015. He was part of the program when it reached three-consecutive bowl games from 2018-20 and won two straight.

READ: Reports: NCAA issues waiver increasing preseason roster size for 2024

Dannen was also in charge when Green Wave student-athletes earned a record-setting department Academic Progress Report of 992, according to a release.

Under Dannen’s guidance, Tulane secured “the largest unrestricted gift in Tulane Athletics history, an endowment gift which funds the operation of a new sport (sailing), and a $10 million lead gift for capital renovations, which is the second largest gift in department history,” according to a release.

“From my first conversation with Troy Dannen, I knew he was a perfect fit for Nebraska,” Kabourek stated in a release. “He is a fierce competitor, he holds himself and his programs to uncommonly high standards, and he cares personally about the success of student-athletes in sports, school and life. Troy sees the vision and momentum we have here at Nebraska, from our bold investments in facilities to our record success in the classroom to our bold plan to elevate our national reputation and competitiveness, and he is excited to be a part of it. I am thrilled that we’ve found someone who is 100% aligned with our high expectations and will be all-in on Nebraska. Husker Nation, we’ve found a winner in Troy Dannen. I can’t wait to welcome him and his family to Nebraska.”

READ: Reports: CFP deal extended through 2031 by conference commissioners, Notre Dame

Dannen previously served as director of athletics at Northern Iowa from 2008-15. Before that he was the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Executive Director for seven years.

“I’m so fired up about this hire,” Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said. “Interim President Kabourek has found exactly the right person to lead the Huskers forward. Troy sees what we see – that Nebraska is a special place, with special people, a great vision and the courage to be unabashed about wanting to win across the board. The fact that someone of Troy’s caliber wants to join Team Nebraska will light a fire across our entire department. Let’s go!”

The post Nebraska hires Washington’s Troy Dannen as AD appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Fisch arrives to the Huskies program after former head coach Kalen DeBoer took the opening at Alabama in wake of Nick Saban’s retirement.

READ: Reports: Former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond transfers to Texas

“It is truly an honor to join The University of Washington and do my part in carrying on the tradition of a storied football program and world-class university,” Fisch stated in a release. “The unbelievable success of the Huskies the last two seasons demonstrates what UW is capable of and I cannot wait to compete for Big Ten and national championships with tremendous young men and an outstanding coaching staff that we will assemble. I am grateful to President (Ana Marie) Cauce and to Troy Dannen for their confidence in me and I’m thrilled to be a Husky. Our work has already begun.”

Fisch spent the past three seasons as head coach of the Wildcats team. He joined Arizona after stints in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018-19 and New England Patriots in 2020.

Fisch was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year and Dodd Trophy after last season. He led the Wildcats to a 10-3 season, including an Alamo Bowl victory, for the first time since 2014 marking a stark change since going 1-11 in 2021.

READ: Michigan’s Blake Corum, J.J. McCarthy declare for NFL Draft

Arizona’s 2021-23 improvement of nine wins is the largest margin over a span of three seasons in program history.

“In seeking a new head coach, we wanted to move quickly but thoroughly and sought out a coach who would build on our foundation, bring energy to the program, has a track record of success, is an elite recruiter and was someone who young men wanted to play for,” Washington athletics director Troy Dannen stated in a release. “We found all of those characteristics and more in Jedd Fisch. It became clear through our conversations that he shares our values and our vision for UW Football, and he is the right coach at the right time as we transition to the Big Ten Conference. On behalf of the Husky Family, I want to welcome Jedd, Amber, Zaylee, Ashlee and Kendall to Seattle, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.”

The post Washington hires Arizona’s Jedd Fisch as next head coach appeared first on Saturday Glory.