Stanford names former Nike CEO John Donahoe athletic director

Late Thursday, Stanford announced the appointment of former Nike CEO John Donahoe as its new athletic director. This was a surprising choice, but the institution claimed it was the right one given the current unrest in collegiate athletics.

The action also strengthens the university’s relationship with Nike co-founder Phil Knight, a significant benefactor and Stanford alumnus.

After almost five turbulent years as CEO, Donaho left from Nike late last year. During that period, the company’s stock momentarily surged before sales declined and layoffs increased.

Some of Donahoe’s tactics, such as an emphasis on direct sales and vintage sneakers, have been retracted by the company under its current CEO, Elliott Hill.

Like Knight, Donahoe graduated from Stanford with a master’s degree in business administration.

Knight stated in a news statement that John Donahoe is a great option for Stanford’s new athletic director. No one is more intelligent, honest, or committed than them. Stanford couldn’t have chosen a better candidate than John, considering the university’s ongoing emphasis on the academic growth of its student athletes. Under his direction, Stanford Athletics has a bright future and the chance to set an example in the quickly changing collegiate athletics industry.

On September 8, Donahoe begins work, taking over an athletic department that is struggling.

For collegiate athletes participating in a variety of so-called Olympic sports, including as swimming, sailing, water polo, and gymnastics, Stanford is a preferred choice. However, it has recently struggled in high-profile team sports like men’s basketball and football. The Stanford women’s basketball team had their poorest season in decades last year, which was a significant setback.

With the Pac-12’s dissolution and the advent of highly compensated collegiate players, the university’s athletic department has found it difficult to adjust. As a result, Stanford had to contend with other universities on the opposite side of the nation in the Athletic Coast Conference.

Prior to taking over as CEO of Nike, Donahoe held a number of high-profile roles in corporate America, including CEO of eBay, ServiceNow, and the consulting company Bain & Co.

Donahoe possesses the vision, discernment, and strategic acumen required for a new era of collegiate athletics, according to Stanford President Jon Levin’s press announcement.

According to Donahoe, student athletes’ experiences would be one of his top goals.

It is an immense honor to be able to return to serve a university I love and guide Stanford Athletics during a crucial and turbulent period in collegiate sports, Donahoe said. For 40 years, servant leadership has been my compass.