SEATTLE — For the second time in about six months, the University of Washington officially introduced a new athletic director at a press conference Thursday.
Pat Chun chose to leave Washington State University, UW's fiercest rival, to become the latest head of the Huskies' athletic department.
“To all the Cougs, it’s just gratefulness and it’s gratitude,” Chun said. “The run that was there, which is I’m such a small part of the equation but you’re grateful for the time. I’m grateful for the people. At the end of the day, it’s all about people.”
Chun was seen as one of the top choices by many after Troy Dannen's surprise decision to leave and accept the AD role at the University of Nebraska. WSU has been competitive in many of its sports under Chun, despite having significantly fewer resources than many of the Cougars' opponents. Chun is also recognized nationally for his ability to fundraise, something that will be critical for UW to remain competitive as it enters a league with many more well-resourced universities.
“We looked for the best person in the country. It was incidental that person was at Washington State,” Washington president Ana Mari Cauce said.
Ever since UW decided to join the Big Ten amid the fracture of the Pacific-12 Conference, Chun has been on the offensive with public comments strongly condemning conference leadership and the 10 schools that ultimately left the once-proud Pac-12 with just two programs: WSU and Oregon State University.
Chun ended a press conference in August 2023 with a defiant statement that seemed to be aimed at programs like UW that chose to seek greener pastures.
"Washington State will continue to be a national brand. Because unlike most of the schools around the country, we've actually earned it through the work of all our student-athletes and all of our alums around the world," Chun said last year.
Nevertheless, Chun's resume has plenty of Husky fans excited, despite his most recent employer. Chun will have two new coaches at the department's two most profitable sports as Jedd Fisch now heads up the football program after being hired in January and Danny Sprinkle was officially introduced as the new head men's basketball coach on Wednesday.
His early impact will likely come from working to light a fire under Husky donors who likely have felt spurned as they've watched UW's last football coach and athletic director depart for what they considered more prestigious roles.
Investment in the program will dictate UW's probability of early success in the Big Ten, so Chun has his work cut out for him as the Huskies set sail for a new era on Montlake.