Three takeaways from new Penn State AD Patrick Kraft's introductory press conference

Penn State officially introduced its new Atheltic Director Patrick Kraft during a press conference at Beaver Stadium on Friday.

Here are three key takeaways from what Kraft had to say.

1. No immediate answers on the future of Beaver Stadium

One of the key questions facing Penn State Athletics is the future of Beaver Stadium.

The stadium, which hosted its first game in 1960, has been a frequent topic of debate and speculation for years.

Without much runway before meeting the media for the first time, Kraft understandably offered little in the way of concrete answers when asked about Beaver Stadium’s outlook.

“I gotta really get into it,” he said. “There’s a lot of things you can do in the short term. [Boston College’s] stadium was like that. A lot of older stadiums are like that. You gotta really analyze it. I don’t have an answer for you…It’s something obviously we’re going to have to figure out.”

Kraft has a multitude of experiences with Beaver Stadium, having played linebacker for Indiana around the turn of the century.

He said he’s attended games as a fan and on the sidelines, too.

“I will say one thing that’s not going to change, and that’s the visitor’s locker room,” he said. “I hated it when I was a visitor and I love it now. That thing is tight.”

2. Football as Penn State’s flagship, and the future of PSU’s athletics programs

New Penn State President Dr. Neeli Bendapudi and Kraft both highlighted Penn State football’s role as the driver for the university’s brand.

Bendapudi also views it as a vehicle that allows the university to sponsor its other Division I sports.

“And we’re going to be competitive in all of them,” she said.

“Just think of what Penn State football does for State College and our surrounding communities,” she added. “I’m mindful of all of those and it was important to get a leader who gets that and also understands that [we have] 31 teams, and every one of those teams deserves the chance and the support to win.”

Kraft said that, when he thinks about Penn State, he thinks about Penn State football.

Asked how he would balance the financial needs of the other sports with football, Kraft cited a need to dive into the books.

Raising funds and generating revenue will be key, he said.

“You’ve got to weigh: What are your wants and what are your needs?” Kraft said. “And you’ve got to provide that for everyone.

“It’s having a discussion. It’s having a strategy of how we’re spending the money and looking at where every penny is spent.”

3. Kraft optimistic about Penn State basketball’s future

Kraft made it clear that he believes Penn State can win on the basketball court.

The men’s program hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2011, although it likely would have snapped that skid in 2020 had it not been for the pandemic.

“What we have to do is change what people think about Penn State basketball,” Kraft said. “This is a place to come and you can be successful. I think that’s the first thing. And Micah [Shrewsberry]…has to have the resources and the ability to change that perception.”

In addition to Kraft, Penn State’s Board of Trustees also approved a contract extension for women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger on Friday.

Kraft made his high opinion of Shrewsberry clear, noting that outgoing AD Sandy Barbour made his life easier by hiring the head coach.

“I got lucky with that one,” he said. “Sandy did that one wonderfully. That one takes time. You’ve got to get people and young athletes to really understand, ‘Oh wait, I can achieve everything here.’ And I’m excited to really dive into that because both coaches deserve that. You can win in basketball. You can.”