The 91探花 has appointed Pat Chun to serve as its 17th Director of Athletics, 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce announced today. Chun has served in the same role at Washington State University since 2018, during which time he was named the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, 10 different WSU sports programs made NCAA tournament appearances and the school won six Pac-12 Championships.听

Chun will begin his duties at the 91探花on Wednesday, March 27, and will be introduced at a news conference on Thursday, March 28.听听

鈥淧at has a track record of success and a wealth of experience 鈥� from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes. He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I鈥檓 so happy he鈥檒l be joining us to lead 91探花Athletics into the future,鈥� said 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce.听

鈥淚t is truly an honor for my family and I to join the 91探花 family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the University,鈥� said Chun. 鈥淚 am grateful to President Cauce for the opportunity and will work closely with our campus partners, our coaches and our staff to help our student-athletes have an incredible experience at UW. Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!鈥�听

Earlier this year, Chun was appointed to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee and also serves on the NCAA Division鈥疘 Council. He previously served on the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee and is a co-founder of the Asian American & Pacific Islander Athletics Alliance. Pat is currently the president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and co-chairs the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, which focuses on college sports as a vehicle for positive social change.听听

At Washington State, Chun oversaw successes in competition and the classroom, and secured record levels of donor support during this time. His appointment at WSU made him the first Asian American athletics director to lead a Power Five program.听

Chun began his career in a series of roles at The Ohio State University lasting from 1997 to 2012, ultimately serving as Executive Associate Athletics Director. During his time at OSU overseeing external relations, he led three consecutive record fundraising years and led negotiations of what was at the time the largest multimedia rights deal in intercollegiate athletics history.听

After OSU, Chun led the Florida Atlantic University athletics program for five-and-a-half years, during which time the Owls won multiple individual and team championships, many national and conference awards, and raised the department-wide GPA to a new high.听

鈥淚 am excited about forming an elite partnership and special relationship with Pat Chun.鈥疘t was critical for us to hire an extraordinary leader who is all about the W.鈥�疨at is about work, winning and the state of Washington.鈥疕e is someone who is extremely knowledgeable and on the cutting edge of the new frontier of college football.鈥疢ost of all, he is a proven winner. He knows what it takes to compete and win consistently at the highest levels. And he brings intimate knowledge of the Big Ten from his time at Ohio State.鈥疘 look forward to sharing ideas together, to learning together, to winning together and to bringing multiple championship trophies to Montlake together,鈥� said 91探花Head Football Coach Jedd Fisch.听

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to have Pat Chun as our new Director of Athletics. He truly centers student-athletes鈥� well-being, academic and athletic pursuits. From his engagement on the D1 Transformation Committee to chairing the Pac-12 ImPACt Leadership Council, he has shown his thoughtfulness for the future of college sports. He is a perfect fit for our 91探花culture and values and will move us forward into the Big Ten,鈥� said Alexes Harris, a professor of sociology at the 91探花who serves as 91探花Faculty Regent and Faculty Athletics Representative.听

鈥淧at is an outstanding leader and administrator who possesses exceptional knowledge of the turbulent landscape of college athletics.鈥疕e is an excellent team builder who has a keen eye for recognizing and hiring top-notch coaches and administrators. Not only does Pat have extensive knowledge and experience in the Big Ten, but he also has deep ties to the Pacific Northwest and Seattle. With so many changes occurring, Pat is the perfect person to help navigate and take 91探花to new heights as we enter the Big Ten this fall,鈥� said Chris Petersen, former 91探花head football coach.听

Chun grew up in Strongsville, Ohio, and earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Ohio State and a master鈥檚 degree from Duquesne University. His wife, Natalie, is also an Ohio State alumnus and they have three daughters 鈥� Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta.听

For more information, contact David Rey at drey94@uw.edu.听

At Monday鈥檚 CFP National Championship Game in Houston, Husky Nation turned out, proud in purple and gold, and cheering on a 91探花team that was undefeated this season. Tens of thousands of fans packed NRG Stadium 鈥� some fresh off the Huskies鈥� Sugar Bowl win in New Orleans 鈥� and stayed to the end. Though 91探花lost to Michigan, as one fan said, 鈥淲e鈥檒l get there again.鈥�

鈥淪tudent players 鈥� in their training, in their practices and on the field 鈥� are developing complex and valuable skill sets,鈥� said , a 91探花 teaching professor of anthropology and curator of Oceanic and Asian culture at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e developing and analyzing plays, observing human behavior, anticipating their opponents, and adapting a complex strategy based on real-time information that they鈥檙e synthesizing from their surroundings. That hasn鈥檛 been widely acknowledged, and does a disservice to players, especially in the academic opportunities they pursue and their future careers.鈥�

Barker and three current members of the 91探花football team 鈥� , and 鈥� are studying how the skills they develop to maximize their chances of victory on the field have applications outside the stadium. Their work, which is ongoing, is showing that the research methods and analytical abilities of student-athletes are applicable in academic and research settings, as well as jobs in a variety of fields.

鈥淲e’re focused on bridging the gap between school and football, student-athletes and students, to just show there’s hard work in both the classroom and on the field,鈥� said Esteen, a sophomore safety, who noted studying opponents, their tendencies, and analyzing angles and distances on the field as some examples of football-related skills that can translate to academic work. 鈥淢any students wouldn’t know that there are probably more than 100 similarities between school and football.鈥�

This project began in the classroom. Football players taking an introductory-level course called 鈥淎nthropology and Sports鈥� started to recognize that the types of skills they developed as student-athletes had parallels to skills that their fellow undergraduates learned and practiced in internships, independent research projects and other research and learning settings that help students prepare for graduate school and the job market.

鈥淚n our class with athletes and non-athletes, we would have a member of the football team describe to us some of the studying and analyses they do of past games, for example, and as they walked us through the step-by-step process, fellow students would point out that they鈥檙e essentially performing advanced trigonometry, human behavioral analysis, and so on,鈥� said Barker.

Players at the college level often spend thousands of hours immersed in their sport. It became clear during the course that those research methods aren鈥檛 widely acknowledged in academic settings, with real-world consequences for players.

鈥淭hese are skills that other students would put on their resumes for applications for internships, graduate school and jobs,鈥� said Barker. 鈥淥nce we realized that they have these research听skills they are not accounting for in their applications to graduate school or for professional jobs, then we focused on the need to articulate the research skills that they acquire.鈥�

Since then, Barker, Ale, Esteen and Tuitele have explored the connections between research skills acquired听in football and so-called 鈥渢raditional鈥� academic skills. The students used interviews, focus groups and other analysis methods to collect data that would help them better articulate the research knowledge and skills that emerge from deep engagement with football 鈥� as well as how those skills are perceived and interpreted by players and non-players. So far, they鈥檝e identified overlaps between research skills acquired听in football or the classroom for fields ranging from psychology and data science to applied mathematics and game theory.

鈥淥ne part of the research was actually looking at the Boeing Technical Apprenticeship Program,鈥� said Tuitele, a junior defensive lineman. 鈥淭here are traits that they require, like teamwork, determination, responsibility, accountability. There鈥檚 a list of traits that they鈥檙e looking for in their program. And I was, like, ‘Oh, this is perfect.’ We were listing each one of them and I was thinking we already do all of these things in football that we can apply to other careers.鈥�

Part of the group鈥檚 goal is to help researchers and educators in other academic fields recognize the unique skill sets and knowledge of student-athletes in their lecture halls and research laboratories.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 kind of the point, just to educate and convey to people who may not see football and school as equal,鈥� said Tuitele. 鈥淎 lot of people would separate that and separate the 鈥榮tudent鈥� and 鈥榓thlete.鈥� And we鈥檙e really just trying to bridge that hyphen in between 鈥榮tudent-athlete.鈥� Changing that hyphen to an equal sign is what we did in our research project 鈥� 鈥榮tudent-athlete鈥� is going to be 鈥榮tudent-equals-athlete,鈥� because the knowledge that we use in academics is the same knowledge that we use in football, and vice versa.鈥�

The group also wants to help college football players become advocates for their skill sets as they pursue academic opportunities in college, as well as apply for jobs and graduate-level programs. College players pursue a variety of careers, but often without leveraging the knowledge base and intellectual abilities they鈥檝e fostered through practice, study and performance on the field.

鈥淚 know, personally, a lot of football players who don鈥檛 feel like they can apply themselves into the real world after football,鈥� said Tuitele. 鈥淭hey feel like they lose their identity after football, you know? Sometimes they feel like football is all that they know and football is who they are. And we just tried to really show that, for football players who feel that way, you can apply yourself to real world. Things that you learned in football, you can also apply to any career, any job that you want in the future.鈥�

Edefuan Ulofoshio forced a fumble on his first play at the 91探花 鈥� an unlikely moment that marked the start of his equally unlikely rise to stardom.

Lightly recruited out of high school, Ulofoshio decided to walk on for the Huskies because they best fit his style of play. His story of tenacity, heart and soaring ambition has been unfurling ever since.

Ulofoshio, a senior from Anchorage, Alaska, is a three-year starter who was selected as a team captain for a 91探花team preparing to face the University of Texas in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. He was named a second-team All-American and received first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Ulofoshio is also now in an elite circle as one of the five finalists for the prestigious Butkus Award, a distinction reserved for the nation’s top linebackers.

Yet, Ulofoshio has aspirations beyond the field. Majoring in public health on a pre-med track, he envisions a future career as a pediatrician.

“I hope to be a catalyst for change,” Ulofoshio says. “To bridge the gap in health care disparities, especially in underserved communities.”

Amid the rigorous demands of student-athlete life, Ulofoshio carved out time to volunteer at Seattle Children’s Hospital and with Mary’s Place 鈥� a shelter aiding families who are transitioning from homelessness.

This year, Ulofoshio received the Guy Flaherty Most Inspirational Award, the highest honor within the 91探花football program. It is a symbol not just of his athletic prowess but a celebration of his character, embodying the values of perseverance, leadership and service.

Now, as the undefeated Huskies get ready for the Sugar Bowl on Monday night, Ulofoshio’s legacy stands strong as a story of grit and determination 鈥� determination that has led the team all the way to a No. 2 ranking nationally and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 write a better script,鈥� Ulofoshio said of his journey after this year鈥檚 Pac-12 championship game. 鈥淵ou dream about moments like this and think they never really come to fruition, but dreams really do come true.鈥�

For ticket and game information about the Huskies鈥� upcoming matchup against the University of Texas in the Sugar Bowl, visit the page.

Dannen will begin his duties at the 91探花on Monday, Oct. 9, and will be introduced in a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

鈥淭roy is committed to excellence across all sports, as well as the success of our students off the field. I鈥檓 so thrilled to welcome him and his family to our Husky family because I know he has a deep commitment to student-athletes 鈥� enabling them to be champions in competition, in the classroom, and most importantly, in their lives after graduation. He鈥檚 also a leader in the national conversations about the changing landscape of college sports, which as we move to the Big Ten will be invaluable to securing the long-term success of Husky Athletics,鈥� Cauce said.

鈥淚 am so honored to have the opportunity to serve the 91探花, our students, coaches, staff, faculty and incredible fans,鈥� Dannen said. 鈥淭hroughout this process, the passion, love and spirit of the 91探花was evident in every conversation, as was the alignment necessary for comprehensive success. We will compete for championships, and we will provide an unmatched experience for our student-athletes. The future has never been brighter for Husky Athletics, and I am humbled to steward the next chapter in our storied history.鈥�

Dannen was a finalist for the Sports Business Journal鈥檚 Athletic Director of the Year award in 2022 in recognition of the transformation of Tulane Athletics under his leadership. The Green Wave finished the 2022 football season ranked ninth in the nation, and across all sports during the 2022-23 academic year, 40 Tulane student-athletes were named to all-conference teams. Tulane鈥檚 student-athletes also set a department-record Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 992 this past year, with a 93% graduation success rate.

Dannen established Green Wave Justice for All to advance diversity and inclusion within the department, university and community, as well as Tulane鈥檚 Name, Image and Likeness program to support student-athletes. In addition, he led numerous record-setting fundraising efforts, for programs to support student-athletes and teams and for capital improvements. Revenue streams across all areas increased significantly during his tenure.

From 2021 to 2023, Dannen served first on the NCAA Constitution Committee and then on the NCAA Transformation Committee, serving alongside presidents, commissioners and directors of athletics in charting a path forward for intercollegiate athletics. He is currently in his fourth year as Chair of the NCAA Football Competition Committee and serves on the Executive Committee of the NCAA Football Oversight Committee.

鈥淭roy brings a passion and enthusiasm for college athletics as well as a strong commitment to developing student-athletes. He is a visionary and proven leader, and has worked diligently to improve the sport of football. I鈥檓 excited to work with Troy and help move the Huskies into the future,鈥� 91探花Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer said.

鈥淚 am very excited for our university and our students as we welcome Troy into the Husky community. I鈥檓 confident that his wealth of knowledge and connections across the NCAA will help guide Washington Athletics into a successful future,鈥� said Professor Alexes Harris, 91探花Faculty Regent and Faculty Athletics Representative.

鈥淭roy is a gifted leader and experienced athletic director who will help lead Washington to new heights. He is highly respected because of his wisdom, thoughtfulness and integrity. And he is admired by coaches and administrators because of his support, creativity and drive to be the best. It鈥檚 an exciting time in college athletics with many challenges ahead, and Troy Dannen is just the person to help lead the Huskies into an exciting future. Go Dawgs!鈥� said Chris Petersen, former Washington head football coach, who along with DeBoer, Harris, Interim Director of Athletics Erin O鈥機onnell and Regent David Zeeck were among the consultants to President Cauce on the search.

Prior to his time at Tulane, Dannen served as director of athletics at the University of Northern Iowa for seven years. While he was AD at UNI, the university鈥檚 teams reached 15 NCAA tournaments and 20 post-season berths, with Dannen being recognized as FCS Athletic Director of the Year in 2014.

Dannen graduated from UNI in 1989 with a degree in communications. He is married to Amy, and together they have four children: Elle, Emily, Holly and William.

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For more information, contact David Rey: drey94@uw.edu

The 91探花 will join the Big Ten Conference, leaving the Pac-12 Conference, effective in August 2024, 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce announced Friday.

鈥淭he Big Ten is a thriving conference with strong athletic and academic traditions, and we are excited and confident about competing at the highest level on a national stage,鈥� Cauce said. 鈥淢y top priority must be to do what is best for our student-athletes and our University, and this move will help ensure a strong future for our athletics program.鈥�

The 91探花is committed to preserving the rich tradition of the Apple Cup rivalry with Washington State University in all sports, including football.

鈥淲e are proud of our rich history with the Pac-12 and for more than a year have worked hard to find a viable path that would keep it together. I have tremendous admiration and respect for my Pac-12 colleagues. Ultimately, however, the opportunities and stability offered by the Big Ten are unmatched,鈥� Cauce said. 鈥淓ven with this move, we remain committed to the Apple Cup and to competing with WSU across all of our sports.鈥�

The 91探花was one of the four founding members of what started in December 1915 as the Pacific Coast Conference, which eventually grew to become the Pac-12. USC and UCLA announced their departures for the Big Ten in 2022, and the University of Colorado announced last month that it would leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12 Conference.

With admission to the Big Ten, the 91探花also joins the Big Ten Academic Alliance, a consortium of world-class research institutions dedicated to advancing their academic missions.

鈥淲e have tremendous respect and gratitude for the Pac-12, its treasured history and traditions,鈥� said Jen Cohen, the UW鈥檚 director of athletics. 鈥淎t the same time, the college athletics landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. The Big Ten鈥檚 history of athletic and academic success and long-term stability best positions our teams for future success, and we are energized at the opportunity to compete at the highest level against some of the best programs in the country.鈥�

Financial terms of the transition were not immediately announced.

For more information, contact Victor Balta at balta@uw.edu.

The 91探花 today announced that PepsiCo will become its official beverage partner beginning July 1.

PepsiCo鈥檚 relationship with the 91探花is built on a commitment to enhancing the student experience, innovating around sustainability, supporting the UW鈥檚 diversity, equity and inclusion goals, and creating more positive impacts for all.

91探花will offer the full suite of PepsiCo products in its three main campuses, hospitals and athletics venues for the next 10 years. The relationship is valued at more than $24.92 million, with an additional $2.4 million in PepsiCo products.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very pleased to welcome PepsiCo as a partner and sponsor. Their commitment to supporting core 91探花values 鈥� the Husky Experience; diversity, equity and inclusion; and sustainability 鈥斕齱ill expand our capacity to provide a world-class education for students and increase access to the UW,鈥� 91探花President Ana Mari Cauce said.

A committee of representatives from across the University 鈥� including all three campuses, 91探花Medicine and Intercollegiate Athletics 鈥� unanimously selected PepsiCo in a competitive bidding process.

鈥淲e at PepsiCo are excited and honored for the opportunity to partner with the 91探花 as their exclusive beverage provider,鈥� said Shay Hobby, senior vice president of Commercial, PepsiCo Beverages North America 鈥� West Division.听鈥淭hrough this partnership, we are committed to making a positive impact on the Husky student experience and community.听 We are grateful for UW鈥檚 collaboration and excited to share this news with our passionate Pepsi teammates who live in that community.鈥�

By becoming a 91探花 signature partner, PepsiCo will:

• Support the student experience by funding scholarships that uplift diversity, equity, and inclusion and for students serving in the military at 91探花Bothell, 91探花Tacoma and on the Seattle campus
• Boost student exposure to career opportunities, with specialized programming at 91探花Bothell, 91探花Tacoma, and on the Seattle campus through Student Life and the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. PepsiCo also will provide real-world job experience by hiring student ambassadors to represent its brand at the UW.
• Help fight food insecurity among the 91探花student population with direct support to the Any Hungry Husky food assistance program
• Limit and reduce beverage packaging and single-use containers, seeking solutions to minimize waste and shift toward clean energy by endowing an on-campus innovation fund
• Provide 91探花Athletics with Gatorade sports beverages and offer 91探花coaches access to the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, a team of researchers working to optimize sports nutrition. PepsiCo also will support the Athletics Impact Fund in Intercollegiate Athletics.
• Promote more positive impacts, pledging that two-thirds of PepsiCo鈥檚 product line will contain 100 calories or fewer per 12-ounce serving by 2025 all as a part of its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) transformation initiative, which centers on sustainability and inspires positive change for the planet and people

PepsiCo equipment is scheduled to be installed across the 91探花campuses this summer. For more information click here or contact uwnews@uw.edu.

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Here鈥檚 what other 91探花leaders said about the new partnership:

鈥淧epsi鈥檚 commitment to invest in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the 91探花will help the university advance important efforts across the three campuses,鈥� said Rickey Hall, the university鈥檚 diversity officer and vice president of the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. 鈥淚nvesting in these programs places a college education in reach for more students, from more parts of Washington, and will help with efforts to create more accessible and welcoming campuses.鈥�

“PepsiCo鈥檚 commitment to supporting the Husky student experience is terrific! From scholarships to career opportunities, this partnership will benefit 91探花students for years to come,” said Denzil Suite, 91探花Vice President for Student Life.

鈥淲e are excited to welcome Pepsi to UW,鈥� said Pamela Schreiber, assistant vice president for Student Life and executive director of 91探花Housing & Food Services. 鈥淲e look forward to a partnership with shared values and priorities, and ensuring a variety of product options across our campus dining operations.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited about bringing PepsiCo and their full range of product offerings to the UW,鈥� said Jen Cohen, director of Athletics. 鈥淲e know our partnership will be extremely beneficial for our student-athletes, staff and Husky Nation, and the opportunities that are created from our collective collaboration will make an incredible impact both on campus and in the community.鈥�

鈥淲e commend PepsiCo鈥檚 movement towards healthier drinks and wellness and its commitment to sustainability, equity and diversity for a better future,鈥� said Cynthia Dold, interim president of Hospitals & Clinics, 91探花Medicine.

鈥淕atorade is a trusted brand in the sports beverage industry that is backed by the work they do at the Gatorade Sport Science Institute,鈥� said Mike Dillon, associate athletic director for Health & Wellness. 鈥淲e are thrilled to have access to their extensive product line that spans hydration, fueling and recovery as well as direct access to the research and support from GSSI. Gatorade has a long-standing history in the world of sports and constantly prioritizes the overall student-athlete experience.鈥�

鈥淭he announcement of this partnership is perfectly timed with the opening of our Terrace Dining Pavilion later this summer,鈥� said Scott James, vice chancellor for the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, 91探花Bothell. 鈥淲e welcome PepsiCo to the 91探花Bothell campus and look forward to collaborating on ways to enrich opportunities for our students.鈥�

鈥淲e are excited to partner with PepsiCo to punch up the flavor of the student experience on the 91探花Tacoma campus. Their support for scholarships, internships, sustainability initiatives and events like Convocation will immeasurably strengthen the Husky community,鈥� said Mentha Hynes-Wilson, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, 91探花Tacoma.

(Editor鈥檚 note: Due to an internal miscommunication, the original content of this news release was edited after publication. The full, original text has been restored.)