Patrick Kraft, establishing foundation of trust, builds executive team at Penn State
Patrick Kraft has a central tenet to the organization and the operation of the athletic departments in which he’s been a part. Assuming the full-time role of Penn State’s athletic director on July 1, that element will again be expected to carry over to the Nittany Lions.
Building relationships on a foundation of trust, the direction of Penn State athletics and everything within it can flow from there.
“It’s about a partnership. And so if you and I are working together, and this is anyone in the organization… we need to trust one another that we’re going to do what’s right for the organization,” Kraft told BWI in an exclusive one-on-one ahead of his first week on the job. “We need to be able to have what I call it debates, what happens in this conference room. Then when we leave, we’re all together.”
Patrick Kraft’s new hires
Tuesday afternoon, Kraft took a major step toward formalizing that outlook.
Announced via press release, Kraft cemented the hires of Vinnie James and Adam Miller on his executive team. James as slated to handle internal operations while Miller will take external affairs and engagement.
Both served with Kraft previously at Boston College and at Temple. Following Kraft to BC, James spent seven years with Kraft at Temple. Miller, meanwhile, helmed Temple’s fundraising efforts both at BC and Temple.
“I don’t have all the answers,” Kraft said of his team-centric approach to the job. “But sometimes I see things at a 50,000 foot perspective, where a coach or an administrator sees things (individually). And so I don’t think there’s natural conflict. If you do it right, there’s camaraderie and trust.”
Accompanying the press release, Kraft acknowledged just how deeply those building blocks exist. With long working relationships with each of the program’s new hires, it will now continue.
Top 10
- 1
Jalen Milroe
Speculation growing on decision
- 2New
Bielema taunts Beamer
Tempers flare, benches clear at Cheez-It Bowl
- 3
Kirk Herbstreit
Firing back at 'false narratives'
- 4Hot
Johntay Cook
WR takes shot at Quinn Ewers
- 5
Dose of reality
Finebaum unloads on ASU QB
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“I am thrilled to have Vinnie and Adam join me at Penn State,” said Patrick Kraft. “We have a long history together, dating back to our time at Temple, and work well together to develop conditions for our student-athletes to be successful.
“Vinnie is a longtime confidant who has a terrific strategic vision and will propel us to the next level, just as he did at our previous institutions. Adam has established himself as one of the best development leaders in the country. His addition to our Penn State staff will allow us to provide our student-athletes with the facilities and resources they need to develop them as the whole person – mind, body, spirit.”
Next steps
Within his title, James has been tasked with directing strategic planning and analysis. That role includes but is not limited to “capital projects, facility and event operations, information technlogy, Penn State Golf Course operations, and equipment operations.”
Miller, meanwhile, is set to oversee the Nittany Lion Club’s development efforts. He’ll also oversee ticket sales and services, revenue strategy and new business development. The All-Sports Museum, facility rentals, data analytics and event parking will also fall under his purview.
Announced along with the news of the James and Miller hires, Penn State also noted that Dr. Lauren Rhodes is now deputy athletics director for student-athlete welfare and development. Lynn Holleran and Scott Sidwell, meanwhile, will both continue to serve on the executive team. They will remain in their current roles as deputy AD for administration and deputy AD for external operations, respectively.
