UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour today (March 16) announced changes within the Intercollegiate Athletics structure to better position the Nittany Lions' broad-based program and 850 student-athletes for the future.
Penn State has one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful athletic programs, featuring 31 sports, that have won 73 team national championships and 90 Big Ten Championships all-time.
The reorganization of Intercollegiate Athletics introduces a more vertical structure, which will encourage communication and collaboration across business units and sports. Four administrative divisions, aligned with how Penn State will best serve its student-athletes and key stakeholders, have been formed. These include business and finance; student-athlete performance, health and welfare; internal and external operations; and administration. Included in this reorganization are a redistribution of sport responsibilities and several promotions.
"We are building what we feel is the best structure for Penn State Athletics for the present and future," stated Barbour, who brought more than 30 years administrative and coaching experience to Penn State last summer. "We are moving in a direction that will effectively serve our most important stakeholders, our student-athletes, while employing a contemporary business model to engage and provide value to our fans. This strategic move will allow us to modernize our business while taking a national leadership role in intercollegiate athletics."
In particular, this new structure will allow synergies to be captured across the areas of sport performance and student-athlete welfare by moving all individuals responsible for these functions into one division. This newly created area combines the expertise of existing staff to leverage opportunities to best serve our student-athletes. Other moves were made that will allow internal efficiencies to provide service and expertise in much needed areas. Most notably, a new unit, Creative Services and Brand Management, will allow these professionals to focus on existing and new assets to best serve the entire department and external stakeholders.
"I have been so impressed by the people in Intercollegiate Athletics in my short time at Penn State," Barbour added. "There is a tremendous sense of pride, passion and integrity in the way our staff conducts its business, keeping what is best for our student-athletes at the forefront of our daily operations. This move will enable us to better position our staff, coaches and key stakeholders as we continue to provide the very best conditions for success for our student-athletes."
Barbour was named Director of Athletics last July and began the department's re-organization last October by naming Phil Esten as Deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer. Last month, another key member of Barbour's senior leadership team was announced with the appointment of Lynn Holleran as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration.
Among the members of the Penn State staff that have been promoted in the re-organization are Associate Athletic Directors Charmelle Green and Rick Kaluza. Green has been named Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Performance, Health and Welfare and Senior Woman Administrator. Kaluza was named Senior Associate AD for Finance and Business Operations. Esten, Green, Holleran and Kaluza will report directly to Barbour and form the leadership team in the new ICA structure.
Additional title changes announced by Barbour include (with new title):- Dave Baker, Associate AD, Business Operations;- Jan Bortner, Associate AD, Student-Athlete Success;- Tim Bream; Assistant AD, Sport Performance;- Clint Eury, Interim Assistant AD, Human Resources;- Dwight Galt; Assistant AD, Strength and Conditioning;- Jim Nachtman; Assistant AD for Media and Video Production;- Jeff Nelson; Associate AD for Strategic Communications;- Stephanie Petulla; Assistant AD for Creative Services and Brand Management;- Jay Takach; Assistant AD, Equipment Services;- Mark Wharton; Associate AD, Development
Penn State is one of just nine institutions nationally that has placed in the final Top 25 of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup every year in the program's 22 years of existence, finishing No. 5 in 2013-14 for its highest finish in 11 years. The Nittany Lions were No. 4 in the Directors' Cup fall 2014 standings.
Penn State student-athletes earned an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 89 percent, according to NCAA data last fall, their second-highest graduation figure all-time and surpassed only by Northwestern among Big Ten institutions. Penn State had a total of 285 Academic All-Big Ten honorees in 2013-14, its second-highest total all-time.