Penn State names Patrick Kraft as next athletic director

Penn State has officially named its replacement for Sandy Barbour.

Patrick Kraft will be the next vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics/director of athletics, the university announced Friday. He will assume that role on July 1, when Barbour plans to retire after eight years with Penn State.

It was reported earlier this week that Penn State was actively pursuing Kraft for the role.

Kraft is currently the Director of Athletics at Boston College, a position he’s held for the last two years. Prior to that, he was the athletic director at Temple University. During his 15-year career in intercollegiate athletics, Kraft also held s leadership roles at Loyola University Chicago and Indiana University.

“I am thrilled to welcome Pat Kraft and his family — Betsy, Annabelle and Joseph — to the Penn State family,” Penn State president-elect Neeli Bendapudi said in a press release. “He is an exceptional and inspiring leader with the vision, experience and drive to excel in this role and to build upon our tradition of intercollegiate athletic success.”

Kraft was approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees on Friday.

“This is a special opportunity, and I am incredibly honored to join Penn State’s best-in-class athletics program,” Kraft said. “The University is world class, rich with tradition and has passionate fan support, and we will never stray from what has made the program great. My focus will be to provide the best experience for our student-athletes and staff, continue to grow our sports programs, and to enhance the best atmosphere in the Big Ten for our community and fans.”

Penn State has 31 varsity sports, with more than 800 student-athletes and 340 staff participating.

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