Pete Thamel of ESPN reported on March 26, 2024, that the University of Washington is on the verge of securing a six-year agreement with Pat Chun, currently the athletic director at their rival, Washington State, to become their new athletic director, according to sources.
This move to bring in Chun, a figure well-known within the community and with significant Big Ten connections, comes as a direct response to the unexpected departure of Troy Dannen, who left for the Nebraska athletic director position after a brief six-month tenure at Washington.
Since January 2018, Chun has been at the helm of Washington State, where his responsibilities have included being chosen for the College Football Playoff Committee and navigating the university’s path forward amid the widespread exits from the Pac-12.
Chun’s Big Ten experience was a key factor for the University of Washington, especially as the school prepares to join the conference in the 2024-25 academic year. His anticipated appointment is notable for being a rare instance of a school hiring an athletic director from a rival institution. However, the unique circumstances surrounding the Pac-12’s recent changes make this decision less surprising.
During his 15-year tenure at Ohio State, Chun managed various aspects of external relations and acted as the administrative liaison for the football program. This experience provided him with deep insights into the Big Ten’s operations, focusing on fundraising and football, which will be vital for his role in Seattle.
Chun’s leadership skills, particularly in navigating financial challenges, are highly valued as Washington grapples with significant stadium debt. The university also faces the challenge of remaining competitive in the Big Ten while receiving only half the television revenue, a situation shared with Oregon, through the 2029-30 season.
At Washington State, Chun’s achievements include the successful recruitment of Kyle Smith, who recently accepted the head coaching position at Stanford after leading the Cougars to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2008. Chun also appointed Kamie Ethridge as the women’s basketball coach, who led WSU to its first Pac-12 tournament title in 2023 and three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
Furthermore, Chun promoted Jake Dickert from assistant coach to head football coach, a decision that has led to two bowl appearances and a 15-16 overall record, including two victories over Wisconsin.
Chun’s appointment at Washington State marked him as the first Asian-American athletic director at a Power Five school. Before joining Washington State, he was at Florida Atlantic, where his tenure included hiring Lane Kiffin as the football coach.