Report: Penn State looking at ACC school for next athletic director

The Penn State Nittany Lions are looking for a new athletic director, after Sandy Barbour announced her retirement this year. According to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Boston College athletic director Patrick Kraft is a prime target, with a deal possible this week.

“Sources: Penn State is targeting Boston College athletic director Pat Kraft to be the school’s next AD,” Thamel said. “A deal has yet to be finalized, but is expected to be by the end of the week.”

Kraft began his administrative career in 2009 as Indiana’s assistant athletics director. He held that position until 2011, when he took the associate athletics director position at Loyola. Kraft then became Temple’s athletic director from 2013 before taking the same position at Boston College in 2020.

The hire is an important one for Penn State, and head football coach James Franklin knows that.

“Kraft is a veteran athletic director in the Northeast with strong experience in football, as he’d overseen the programs at BC and Temple and also played football in the Big Ten at Indiana,” Thamel said. “After Barbour stepped down, Penn State football coach James Franklin termed the hire as ‘critical’ for the athletic department and football program.”

What Kraft would be taking over at Penn State

Football wise, Kraft would be coming to Penn State with a focus on helping the team leap back into championship contention. The Nittany Lions went 7-6 overall last year and 4-5 against Big Ten opponents. James Franklin signed a ten-year contract extension at the end of last season, and now he is looking to take another step forward with Kraft potentially joining the fold at Penn State.

In basketball, Penn State went 14-17 last season, including a 7-13 mark against Big Ten opponents. The Nittany Lions won two games in the Big Ten Tournament before falling in the quarterfinals.