Stanford Names Ex-Nike CEO John Donahoe Athletic Director

Stanford University has appointed former Nike CEO John Donahoe as its new athletic director, starting September 8, 2024, to lead the athletic department through a transformative period. Donahoe, a Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus with extensive corporate leadership experience at Nike, eBay, ServiceNow, and PayPal, is seen as a 'unicorn candidate' for his unique blend of business acumen and Stanford ties. He replaces Bernard Muir, who stepped down after 13 years, and will work closely with Stanford football general manager Andrew Luck to revitalize the football program, which has struggled with four consecutive 3–9 seasons. Donahoe's appointment reflects Stanford's strategic shift to navigate contemporary challenges in college athletics, such as NIL, media rights, and conference realignment, especially after moving to the ACC. Despite struggles in marquee sports like football and men's basketball, Stanford's Olympic sports program remains dominant, having earned 39 medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. University leaders praise Donahoe's vision and servant leadership approach to sustain Stanford’s model of academic and athletic excellence amid a changing collegiate sports landscape.