UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Athletic director Sandy Barbour announced the reorganization of the structure of Penn State’s athletic department Monday, resulting in a more vertical structure that allows for collaboration between business and sports.
“We are moving in a direction that will effectively serve our most important stakeholders, our student-athletes, while employing a contemporary business model to engage and provide value to our fans,” Barbour said in a statement. “This strategic move will allow us to modernize our business while taking a national leadership role in intercollegiate athletics.”
Barbour, who was introduced as athletic director in July, continues making her mark on the department and this change features four administrative divisions that Barbour said aim to best serve Penn State’s 31 sports and 850 student-athletes. The divisions include business and finance; student-athlete performance, health and welfare; internal and external operations; and administration. A creative services and brand management unit is also a new addition that falls under the umbrella of internal and external operations.
The leadership team still includes Penn State president Eric Barron at the top with faculty athletics representative Linda Caldwell and Barbour below him, but within the four divisions there are changes.
The structure shake-up resulted in several promotions, including associate athletic director Charmelle Green who was promoted to senior associate athletic director for student-athlete performance, health and welfare and senior woman administrator. Associate athletic sirector Rick Kaluza was promoted to senior associate AD for finance and business operations.
“This move will enable us to better position our staff, coaches and key stakeholders as we continue to provide the very best conditions for success for our student-athletes,” Barbour said in a statement.
The promotions are the latest in athletic changes where Phil Esten, Penn State’s deputy athletic director and chief operating officer, was hired in October and Lynn Holleran, the senior associate athletic director for administration, was appointed in February. Esten, Holleran, Green and Kaluza are part of the ICA’s leadership team that reports to Barbour, who then works closely with Barron.
Other title changes of the dozen announced include ones to Penn State strength coach Dwight Galt, who is assistant AD, strength and conditioning, which falls under the division of student-athlete performance, health and welfare. Head trainer Tim Bream is the assistant AD, sport performance.
Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter @audsnyder4.
First Published: March 17, 2015, 4:00 a.m.