Huskies take from Cougars: Pat Chun reportedly exits WSU to become UW athletic director
First, the Huskies left the Cougars. Now they just took something from WSU.
Pat Chun is leaving his job as Washington State athletic director to become the new AD at archrival Washington. UW announced its 17th AD — and third athletic director since August — on Tuesday afternoon.
“Pat has a track record of success and a wealth of experience – from 15 years in the Big Ten and service on national groups guiding the future of college sports, to securing community support and a commitment to the well-being of student-athletes,” University of Washington president Ana Mari Cauce said in a statement from the school. “He knows our state, is highly respected in national athletics circles and has an eye for talent. I’m so happy he’ll be joining us to lead UW Athletics into the future.”
Chun became WSU’s athletic director in 2018, arriving from Florida Atlantic. He promoted Jake Dickert from assistant to head football coach. Chun hired Kamie Ethridge as women’s basketball coach. Her WSU team won the Pac-12 tournament last year, the first such title in program history, and went to three consecutive NCAA tournaments for the first time.
While Chun was Washington State’s AD, the Cougars’ women’s soccer team reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time. That was in 2019.
Chun hired Kyle Smith as head coach of the Cougars’ men’s basketball program that just finished its best season in a generation. Smith’s WSU finished second in the final season of the Pac-12 conference and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament this past weekend.
Smith left Washington State on Tuesday to take the head job at Stanford, which is headed to the Atlantic Coast Conference this summer.
Washington is headed to the Big Ten, one of 10 schools leaving behind Washington State and Oregon State in the disintegrated Pac-12.
That’s where Chun is instantly valuable to UW.
“It is truly an honor for my family and I to join the University of Washington family, and I look forward to doing my part to help elevate the athletics program and the University,” Chun said in UW’s statement. “I am grateful to President Cauce for the opportunity and will work closely with our campus partners, our coaches and our staff to help our student-athletes have an incredible experience at UW. Our transition to the Big Ten is a critical step in our journey and great things lie ahead for the Huskies!”
Chun spent 15 years in the Big Ten. He was Ohio State’s athletic department. Among his jobs for the Buckeyes was in external relations as a liaison with the Big Ten Conference.
Chun becomes the Huskies’ athletic leader most well-versed in the Big Ten UW is entering.
Chun replaces Troy Dannen at Washington. Dannen left UW six days ago, after less than six months leading Huskies athletics, to become the athletic director at Nebraska.
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 12:49 PM.
