When the University of Washington lost athletic director Jen Cohen to the University of Southern California in August 2023, the school took time to find her replacement. A two-month search led her to hire Troy Dannen, but her tenure ended abruptly when she left for Nebraska on Thursday.
The University of Washington has significantly shortened the time it will take to replace Dannen, naming longtime Washington State athletic director Pat Chun as its 17th athletic director, the school announced Tuesday. ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the hire. Chong Chong will reportedly sign a six-year contract. Financial details of Chun's contract were not immediately available.
“It is a true honor for me and my family to join the University of Washington family,” Chung said in a news release, adding, “I look forward to playing my part in contributing to the improvement of the athletics program and the university.” ” he said.
Chung, who joined Washington State University in January 2018, previously served as Florida Atlantic's athletic director for more than five years. He also brings Big Ten experience to Montlake. Mr. Chun has served in various roles at his alma mater, Ohio State University, for his 15 years. Chun also became the first Asian American Power Five athletic director when he took over at Palouse.
During his six years at Washington State University, Mr. Chun served on the NCAA Division I Council, the NCAA Strategic Vision and Planning Committee, the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee, the NCAA Constitution Committee, and currently serves on the NCAA Board of Governors. I am the chairperson of the committee. National Collegiate Athletics Directors Association.
Chung was also recently announced as the next member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, with his three-year term scheduled to begin in the spring.
“Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience, from his 15 years in the Big Ten and with national organizations guiding the future of college sports, to ensuring community support and student-athlete health initiatives. ,” said UW President Anna Mari Coase. “He knows our state well, is highly respected in national athletics circles, and has an eye for talent.
His time in Pullman was fruitful for the Cougars. Chun joins men's basketball coach Kyle Smith, who left for Stanford University on Monday after a 94-70 record at Washington State University, and women's basketball coach Kyle Smith, who led the Cougars to the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament championship. Hired basketball coach Kamie Ethridge. Chun also promoted football coach Jake Dickert, who led WSU to back-to-back bowl games in his first two seasons in 2021 and 2022.
“We are excited to form an elite partnership and special relationship with Pat Chun,” Washington football coach Jed Fisch said. “It was important to us to hire an exceptional leader who is all about the W. Pat cares about work, winning, and Washington State. He is extremely knowledgeable and a new frontier in college football. He's a guy who's on the cutting edge of. Above all, he's a proven winner. He knows what it takes to compete at the highest level and win consistently.”
Washington State's program has had success under Chong off the field as well. During his tenure, the Cougars averaged more than $31 million in fundraising annually, a significant increase from the $11.5 million annually raised by WSU from 2014-2018.
He was also tasked with guiding the Cougars through the financial losses caused by the implosion of the Pac-12. Settlement negotiations between the 10 withdrawing universities and the remaining two (Washington and Oregon) were completed on Monday.
It was a quick turnaround for Mr. Washington and Mr. Kors. Dannen departed for Nebraska just five days ago, ending a checkered five-month term. Washington reached the CFP championship game, lost former football coach Karen DeBoer to Alabama, hired Fisch from Arizona and fired men's basketball coach Mike Hopkins under Dannen.
UW hired former Utah State coach Danny Sprinkle to replace Hopkins on Monday, despite not having an athletic director in place.
Mr. Chun arrived in Washington just in time for Washington to decide on its plans. The Huskies changed conferences for the first time in more than a century, joining the Big Ten from the Pac-12. Although he inherits a more stable financial situation than his time at Washington State University, Chun's new job will require delicate financial management.
Washington still has to repay a nearly $300 million loan for the 2012 renovation of Husky Stadium. The university will also receive only about half a share of the Big Ten's media rights through the 2029-30 season, despite rising travel costs and the need for student-athlete support as part of the university's transition to the Big Ten. .
But Washington state faces a dire financial situation and uncertain conference loyalties and must look for new leadership.
“We appreciate Pat Chun's six years of service as WSU Director of Athletics and are disappointed in his resignation,” WSU President Kirk Schultz said in a statement. “We are now focused on selecting the next Director of Athletics who will lead Cougar Athletics to even greater heights.”
The Cougars' athletic department has long struggled with debt. Martin Stadium underwent an $80 million renovation in 2012. One reason, he said, was that the Pac-12 had just signed a new media rights deal that predicted increased revenue from conference distribution.
If anything, the failures of the Pac-12 network put Washington State in a tough spot. The Comcast overpayment scandal in 2022 also reduced distributions to an already underperforming conference once again, costing its 12 members $72 million, or $6 million per school.
WSU scored a small financial victory last week. Settlement negotiations with the 10 departing schools resulted in Washington State and Oregon splitting $65 million in conference funding.
Additionally, CFP's new media rights deal with ESPN, announced on March 19, will pay Washington State $3.6 million annually from 2026-28, according to CBS Sports. This is a significant increase from the previous $350,000. By comparison, Washington will earn about $22 million annually from the CFP as a member of the Big Ten.
However, the Cougars will need to find money to replace the roughly $36 million they earned as part of the Pac-12 during the 2023 fiscal year. Washington State and Oregon have not announced their distribution partners for 2024-25, but Schultz told Pac-12 Hotline's John Wilner that it will be resolved “relatively quickly” on Feb. 21. He said he expected it.
No matter who Washington and Oregon decide to partner with, nearly $36 million in compensation is unlikely to be found. For comparison, the Mountain West averaged $5.5 million in conference distribution in 2023, when WSU and OSU signed a two-year football schedule agreement, according to Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
But Chun is no longer responsible for solving those problems in Washington state. Instead, he heads from the Palouse to Montlake, trading crimson and gray for purple and gold.
“I am grateful to Chancellor Coase for the opportunity and look forward to working closely with our campus partners, coaches, and staff to help our student-athletes have a great experience at UC,” Chun said. Ta. “Moving to the Big Ten is an important step in our journey and great things are in store for the Huskies!”
