UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Robert Boland, athletics integrity officer at Penn State, announced today (Feb. 4) that he will step down from that position, effective March 1, 2022. Boland indicated he plans to return to the practice of sports law and to devote his time to other professional interests, including his teaching position at Penn State Law and the College of the Liberal Arts. Boland has held the athletics integrity officer position since June 2017.
“We wish Bob well in his future endeavors and thank him for his service to the University as its athletics integrity officer. Bob’s advice and counsel to the University and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in the midst of the rapidly changing environment of intercollegiate sports has been invaluable and much appreciated,” said Penn State Vice President for Administration Frank T. Guadagnino.
As athletics integrity officer, Boland has been responsible for review and oversight of matters relating to compliance and ethical obligations of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and for managing and overseeing the University’s Athletics Integrity Program. During his tenure, he has been principally responsible for overseeing the University’s athletics integrity program, which was established to promote the University’s compliance with NCAA and Big Ten rules and regulations, as well as with the NCAA’s and the Big Ten’s standards of integrity for member institutions.
“Although I am stepping down as the University’s athletics integrity officer, I continue to strongly believe in the critical work and nature of the role,” said Boland. “I've been honored to have been entrusted with this responsibility and plan to remain an advocate for this role around the nation. The last five years, matching my time in the role, have been a period of enormous change and complexity in intercollegiate athletics. I am pleased to have been on the front lines in helping meet these challenges and harmonizing these changes with Penn State’s values and mission. I am grateful to have had this opportunity.”
An interim athletics integrity officer will be named prior to Boland’s March departure date from the position. Boland, who has experience teaching classes in law, sports law, sports contracts and antitrust and collective bargaining in sports, will continue teaching at Penn State through spring semester 2022.