Stanford hires John Donahoe as athletic director, breaking mold with ex-Nike CEO in revenue-sharing era

Stanford University has appointed John Donahoe, the former CEO of Nike, as its new athletic director, breaking the mold for this position. Donahoe fills the vacancy left by Bernard Muir, who stepped down after 13 years in the role. This move is significant as Donahoe comes from a corporate background, rather than the traditional sports or academic administration backgrounds typically seen in athletic directors. This appointment reflects the increasing focus on revenue generation and business acumen in collegiate athletics, particularly in the era of name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights and potential revenue-sharing agreements. Donahoe's experience leading a global brand like Nike is expected to bring a fresh perspective and set of skills to Stanford's athletic program. The university hopes to leverage his expertise in areas such as marketing, sponsorship, and revenue generation to support its student-athletes and maintain its competitive edge in collegiate sports.