Korean American Patrick Chun, the newest athletic director at Washington State University appointed this February, was recently profiled by the Washington Post.
“Let me put it this way,” said Chun, 43. “It’s not lost on me the significance of being the first Asian American athletic director at a Power Five.”
Prior to his job at Washington State, Chun was the athletic director at Florida Atlantic University, where he honed a glowing reputation for his ability to deal with colorful personalities, along with his finesse at fundraising. The third year of his tenure, Florida Atlantic University broke its record for the single largest contribution with a $16 million donation to its athletics program.
Chun was selected out of eight finalist candidates.
“When you start getting more involved [in the interview process], then it hits you: ‘Wow, no one really looks like you,’ ” Chun said. “You never really quantify these things until you start competing for jobs and you’re trying to get to different levels of your career. It’s like, ‘Wow.’ It does hit you.”
According to university president Kirk Schulz, a member of the hiring committee, Chun blew them away.
“One member of the search committee, minutes after Chun left the room, said with the utmost sincerity, ‘I think we’re done,’” Schulz said.
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