Why Patrick Chun makes perfect sense for WSU
By Barry Bolton Cougfan.com
THE MAN succeeding Bill Moos as Washington State's Director of Athletics -- Patrick Chun -- will be officially introduced on Tuesday. Here's why Chun, who had been the AD at Florida Atlantic since 2012, makes perfect sense as Kirk Schulz' top choice to lead WSU to the next level.
How so? Because Patrick Chun is ...
1. A dynamic fundraiser.
Schulz' stated No. 1 priority was an AD who can make it rain dollars. Among Chun's accomplishments at FAU: a $16 million donation in 2015 towards building a new athletics facility, the largest single donation in school history. Chun also secured two other individual donations for the project, at $7 million and $5 million each. The largest single athletics donation WSU has ever secured is $3 million, spread out over 10 years. In 2013, Chun also helped negotiate a 10-year corporate sponsorship agreement with Learfield Sports expected to generate $25 million over its life cycle.
2. A ‘no steps back’ man with a plan.
The average annual donation at WSU is $833 while fellow land grant schools Oregon State and Kansas State stand at approximately $2,200. Sources tell CF.C that Chun impressed Schulz with both his ideas and enthusiasm for getting the dollars to flow from that large, untapped reservoir. Schulz in his first press conference after Moos left for Nebraska said he wanted an AD who would take a firm, 'no steps back' approach, and Chun's work at FAU bears that out.
3. Someone with a proven track record.
Chun, 43, who becomes the first Asian-American AD at a Power Five school, isn't only known for his work at FAU. He spent 15 years at Ohio State, his alma mater, climbing the ladder in the athletic department. In four years of overseeing the external relations division before he went to FAU, Chun oversaw record fundraising years of $42 million in 2012, $41 million in 2011, and $39 million in 2010. He also was a key member of the OSU team who secured a 10-year, $128 million deal with IMG in 2009.
4. A guy who knows football's importance.
A year ago, he hired Lane Kiffin and the football program went from 3-9 to 11-3. That kind of improvement in the No. 1 college sport is always followed by a significant increase in donations. Chun also served as the daily administrative liaison with the football program while at Ohio State.
5. Someone who understands the importance of academics.
Chun's stated top priority at FAU was to improve the academics. Before he arrived, the athletic department’s GPA was 2.66, the Graduation Success Rate was 66 percent and the Academic Progress Rate was 942. By 2015, the GPA had climbed to 3.0 for the first time in school history. By 2016-17, the GSR had climbed to 79 percent. And FAU also posted a school-record 979 in the APR in 2016-17, with eight teams recording perfect 1000 scores.
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Patrick Chun Selected to Lead Washington State Athletics
January 22, 2018
Patrick Chun Selected to Lead Washington State Athletics
By: Washington State Athletic Communications
PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University President Kirk Schulz has selected Patrick Chun as the WSU Director of Athletics, it was announced Monday. Chun will be introduced at a press conference in the Rankich Club Room at Martin Stadium Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. He becomes the 14th individual to lead Cougar athletics in school history and begins his duties Feb. 5.
"This is a game-changing day for our athletics program," said WSU President Kirk Schulz. "We were focused on finding a leader with the right blend of experience, vision, and passion to lead Cougar athletics to the next level of success. In Pat, we're confident we found that person. His achievements in fundraising, boosting the academic success rate of student athletes, and building strong relationships with the community—on- and off-campus—are exemplary."
Chun, 43, is the first Asian-American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school and continues President Schulz' drive to diversify his senior leadership team. He has spent the past five and a half years leading Florida Atlantic University athletics and the previous 15 years at Ohio State University in a multitude of roles from 1997 through 2012, culminating as the executive associate athletics director.
"I am honored to serve the Washington State University family and I want to thank President Schulz and the search committee for entrusting me as the steward of the Department of Athletics," said Chun. "The passion and pride of Cougar Nation is renowned and revered across the country and I will work with our great coaches and staff to impact the lives of our student-athletes and to build upon our past successes to achieve new heights. My family and I are looking forward to joining the WSU community and we are excited to get started."
During his time at Florida Atlantic University athletics, Chun guided the Owls to unprecedented successes across academics, athletics, student-athlete development and fundraising. His top priority upon arriving at FAU was academics, which saw tremendous growth. Entering the 2017-18 academic year, FAU student-athletes have posted a combined GPA above 3.0 for each of the past four semesters, a first in school history. School records were also posted for Graduate Success Rate (GSR) and Academic Progress Rate (APR) in 2016-17.
Chun's focus on the complete student-athlete is highlighted by the 2016 National Association of Academic Advisors (N4A) Model Practices Award, awarded to FAU for displaying best practices in their programming for student-athletes. FAU was honored for its work with the football program. Along with the academic improvement, the FAU athletics department developed a comprehensive life skills program, featuring career services and a speakers program, as well as a concerted effort to provide community service to the South Florida area.
"Throughout the process it was exciting to see the number of tremendous candidates who applied," said WSU Faculty Athletic Representative and search committee member Nancy Swanger. "It reaffirmed what I believed from the start, that this position is a nationally coveted job. Pat will be a wonderful addition to our campus and a person who understands the growing time demands of collegiate athletics, places a premium on academics, and has great vision for the future with student-athlete welfare at the forefront."
Under Chun's leadership, FAU athletics rose to some of its greatest heights, winning multiple championships, individual and team, and numerous national and conference awards. Owls' football won its final 10 games of 2017 to finish 11-3 with a bowl victory over Akron while receiving votes in the final national poll. Entering the 2017-18 academic year, FAU athletics posted an overall winning record the previous three years while women's volleyball, women's soccer, beach volleyball, men's tennis, women's tennis, baseball and softball have either won conference championships, been ranked highest in school history or finished with winning seasons. The men's and women's diving teams, women's track and field and cross country programs produced conference champions along with all-conference honorees.
Chun has earned a reputation as an outstanding fundraiser with record successes at two institutions. At FAU, December 2, 2015, the university announced the largest single gift in its history, $16 million from the Schmidt Family Foundation. The lead gift is directed to the design and construction of a new athletics facility to be named the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence. In addition to the naming rights gift, two separate $5 million naming gifts were included in the project for a sports medicine center and academic center. Construction began in the fall of 2017.
Additional facility improvements at FAU during Chun's time included the opening of the $800,000 FAU Tennis Complex, the addition of sand volleyball courts for the beach volleyball program and last fall the FAU Varsity Soccer Field opened following renovations and enhancements.
Revenue generation has been at the forefront of initiatives for Chun. In August of 2013, FAU agreed to a 10-year agreement with Learfield Sports as its exclusive corporate sponsorship sales unit. The partnership is expected to generate $25 million in revenues over the life of the agreement. In 2015, FAU extended its agreement with Adidas for $1.2 million.
On a national level, Chun currently serves on the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee. He also was named to the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) executive committee in 2016. Chun completed a three-year term on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 2013-16. He also serves as a mentor in the NCAA Pathways program. Chun had previously served on the executive committee for the National Association for Athletics Development Directors (NAADD) and was a longtime board member for the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. In 2011, Chun was selected for the inaugural class of the Division 1A Athletics Directors Association Fellowship Program.
Prior to FAU, Chun spent 15 years at Ohio State University working at his alma mater. During his tenure, he was promoted six times in the Department of Athletics, ultimately elevating to Executive Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. In his last role at Ohio State, Chun provided leadership and oversight for all facets of the external relations division from 2009-12. In the four years of overseeing the external relations division, Chun oversaw record fundraising years of $42 million in 2012, $41 million in 2011, and $39 million in 2010. Chun also was a lead member of the athletics department senior team that authored the then-largest multimedia rights deal in intercollegiate athletics history: a 10-year, $128 million partnership with IMG College in 2009. Chun also served as the daily administrative liaison with the football program.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Chun earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University and a master's degree from Duquesne University. He and his wife, Natalie, also an OSU alumna, have three daughters (Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta) who enjoy their dog (Little Brother).
What They Are Saying
Jim Tressel, President, Youngstown State University
"Pat Chun is clearly one of the finest athletic administrators in America. The student-athletes and their well-being will be his primary interest. Pat will be a terrific mentor to all of the coaches, and he, along with Natalie and the family will be a blessing to the WSU Cougar Family. "
Tom McMillan, President and CEO of Lead1
"Pat Chun is one of the outstanding young leaders in college athletics who has demonstrated transformative and inspiring leadership, and who has always been willing to give back to his profession. We wish him well at Washington State."
Gene Smith, Director of Athletics at Ohio State University
"Pat Chun is one of the premier young leaders in Intercollegiate Athletics. He is extremely talented and gifted. I am so happy for him and proud of him."
Dan Guerrero, Director of Athletics at UCLA
"I am thrilled to hear of Pat Chun's selection as Washington State University's next athletic director, and excited to welcome him to the Pac-12. Pat and I have served together on a number of committees through the years, and I have come to know him as a tremendously talented and insightful administrator. I have great respect for him, both as a leader and as a person, and I look forward to working with him in our conference."
Urban Meyer, Head Football Coach, Ohio State University
"Pat has done an outstanding job as athletic director at Florida Atlantic. He is a rising star in the profession and I wish him all the best in this new position."
Oliver Luck, NCAA Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
"President Schulz hit a Grand Slam with the hire of Pat Chun. I've known Pat for many years and he is one of the savviest and brightest athletic directors in the country. A protégé of Gene Smith at Ohio State, Pat did incredible work at FAU and put them in the national spotlight. And I? believe he will do the same for the Cougars."
Bob Vecchione, NACDA Executive Director
"Pat is one of Intercollegiate Athletics industry's rising young stars. Pat has paid his dues at every level of his career during his 15-year tenure at Ohio State, and had the perfect role model and mentor, Gene Smith. Pat heightened the awareness at FAU, during his 5-plus years and there is little doubt that he will do the same at Washington State!"
Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Athletics
"Congratulations to Washington State University on the outstanding hire of Pat Chun as its new athletics director. I'm especially excited to see him united with President Schulz, whom I know and am a huge fan of from his days in the Big 12 Conference. Pat has been purposeful in his career journey to sharpen the necessary skills to lead in today's dynamic world of intercollegiate athletics. Moreover, he will identify, build and sustain great relationships with all key stakeholders of the University's vision and mission."
Joey Galloway, 16-year NFL wide receiver and current ESPN college football analyst
"Pat was a part of the tremendous growth of one of the largest athletic programs (if not the largest) in the country at Ohio State. He then took that experience to FAU where he put the football program on the map with the hiring of Lane Kiffen. I am excited to see what Pat will do at a top Pac-12 school like Washington State."
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Coach Mike Leach speaks on Tyler Hilinski
By Dale Grummert, Lewiston Trib Jan 22, 2018
Tyler Hilinski, the 21-year-old quarterback whose suicide has left the Washington State football team in anguish, never showed signs that anything was seriously amiss in his inner world, Cougars coach Mike Leach said Saturday.
“Just talking to really everybody (in the WSU program), there was no real signs,” Leach said in a teleconference. “Everybody’s got dark spaces that they work through, I’m sure, but nobody really saw anything like that. He didn’t have signs of depression. He didn’t have periods where he was moping around or anything like that.”
It was the first time Leach has spoken directly to reporters since Hilinski died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Pullman apartment Tuesday.
“He was honestly a very steady guy,” Leach said, “and he was the type of guy that would lift up others that were down. He hadn’t really had any issues. Some ups and downs as a college student, but nothing that would stand out and would be recognized as a problem.”
Leach, whose 30-year coaching career has included 16 as a head coach, said he has never faced a challenge quite like this one, and has consulted coaching colleagues on the best way to proceed.
“I’ve dealt with guys passing but never like this, under these circumstances,” he said. The idea is to “listen to players - get as many counselors around them as you can, which is a continuing process. The counselors help set a course for you to heal, and everybody does that at a different pace and in a different way.”
Hilinski’s parents, Mark and Kym Hilinski, traveled from their home in Southern California and spoke with WSU players in Pullman, and also attended a candlelight vigil Friday night at a makeshift memorial for Hilinski at the Cougar Pride statue on Stadium Way. Cougar players were among hundreds of mourners.
“The Cougs are a very close unit, and everybody cares about other Cougs,” Leach said. “I think that was a powerful moment. I think it meant a lot to the Hilinskis, and I think helping them heal through this is one of the most important things, because there’s nothing more difficult than the circumstances they’re in right now. Everybody taking a role and helping them move past it was very good.”
A backup to Luke Falk for two seasons, Hilinski made his first career start when Falk injured a wrist prior to the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28, when the Cougars lost 42-17 to Michigan State. Now that Falk has completed his eligibility, Hilinski had been the presumed starter next year as a junior.
Leach said he spoke by phone to Hilinski a couple of days after the bowl game “about moving forward and building and developing into next year.” The athlete accompanied his family on a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, before returning to Pullman for the spring semester.
At some point early last week, Leach said, Hilinski was texting teammates to plan for a pass-and-catch session Tuesday afternoon. His body was discovered after he failed to show up for a weight-training session that afternoon.
Leach said his team has planned meetings and activities on a regular basis in recent days, more to provide mutual support than anything
