New Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini quietly introduced on Thursday
Arizona State University made the previously reported hire of Graham Rossini as ASU athletic director official Thursday with an announcement from President Michael Crow.
But some comments from Crow turned heads at the introduction of Rossini as the new AD, which took place near the Tillman Tunnel inside Sun Devils Stadium.
Crow said he didn't formally interview any other candidates for the athletic director position at ASU. The school talked to some other candidates, but didn't bring anyone into campus.
"What we found was that the best executive to lead us was one that was with us," Crow told reporters. "That has over 20 years experience in sports administration, sports business, sports development, sports marketing, sports management. He's a Sun Devil through and through himself, who’s a very very able executive capable of operating within the ASU system, which is high speed, highly entrepreneurial, highly driven by new ways of doing things as you can see by the way the rest of the university has advanced. That's Graham Rossini."
ASU athletic director hire reaction: Mixed opinions on Graham Rossini as ASU AD
Michael Crow acknowledged that he did not interview any other candidates besides Rossini. When asked when he knew that he wanted to hire Rossini, he said it was a process of building increasing confidence over a period of time in recent months.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) May 23, 2024
Crow said that he knows many current ADs and others in the field and had many conversations with others in the industry prior to deciding to hire Rossini.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) May 23, 2024
Crow said he interviewed "zero" candidates for the AD job aside from Rossini
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) May 23, 2024
Michael Crow when asked how many formal interviews he did in this process:
“Zero.”
He said over the course of six months and multiple meetings, his confidence grew in Rossini running the athletic department.— Jordan Hamm (@JordyHamm) May 23, 2024
Grasham Rossini's qualifications for Arizona State Athletic Director position
ASU hasn't had an AD since Ray Anderson's resignation from the position in November 2023.
Rossini, formerly the school's executive senior associate athletic director and chief business officer, returned to the school in 2021 as senior associate athletics director, before being promoted in the fall, so this marks a second promotion within a year.
Before returning to ASU, Rossini spent 13 years in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, where he was vice president of special projects and fan experience. He oversaw several facets, including ticket revenue, corporate partnerships, special events and merchandising. He also headed the club's fan experience, special events, alumni outreach and branding.
Rossini, a 2002 graduate of ASU, also headed more than $300 million in capital projects, which included the design, construction, ticket sales, and marketing of Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the team's spring training home. He was also responsible for the planning and design of the Diamondbacks Player Development and Education Academy in the Dominican Republic.
Rossini, 44, also spearheaded the franchise efforts in landing the 2011 All-Star Game and the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He also coordinated the 2014 MLB Opening Series in Australia, exhibition games in Mexico (2015 and 2019), and the winning bid that secured Phoenix as a host site for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
More: Graham Rossini as Arizona State athletic director? It's crazy enough to work
Graham Rossini 'enormously proud' to lead Arizona State athletics
Before joining the Diamondbacks, the Mobile, Alabama, native spent five years as ASU's Director of Baseball Operations. He was involved in two College World Series teams, two Pac-12 championships, and recruiting five top-five signing classes.
“The ability to lead the athletics department at my alma mater is a responsibility that I am enormously proud to take on,” Rossini said in a statement. “I am so thankful for the many opportunities in my life that were created through ASU, and I have much to repay as a result.
“Our entire athletics department will work relentlessly to support our student-athletes and coaches as we compete at the highest level. We will build and maintain strong relationships with the entire ASU community, including our fans, letterwinners, alumni, partners and donors, while celebrating the spirit, pride and tradition that is unique to ASU.”
More: Arizona State expected to promote Graham Rossini to vacant athletic director post
VOTE: How would you grade #ASU's hire of Graham Rossini as athletic director: (Who is new Arizona State AD?: https://t.co/ddniqeA7Ux) #ForksUp #SunDevils
— Jeremy Cluff (@Jeremy_Cluff) May 23, 2024
Social media reacted to Crow's interview revelation about the Arizona State AD job
Wow
— Dave McKibben (@DaveMcKibben1) May 23, 2024
Well that’s not good
— David Benjamin (@DavidBenjamin21) May 23, 2024
Pathetic
— Blake Hanna (@Koaedge1995) May 23, 2024
That’s malpractice.
— Tdurn51 (@tdurn51) May 23, 2024
Horrible!!!!
— db88 (@DDevilboy193) May 23, 2024
No others were interviewed when Edwards was hired as well.....
— Pete Ziebron (@tennisacumen) May 23, 2024
Just unbelievable.
— Adonis Kryzinger (@Mrs_Kryzinger) May 23, 2024
And they are all laughing at him and ASU right now
— Scott Everett (@SunDevilEverett) May 23, 2024
What a joke, another puppet.
— db88 (@DDevilboy193) May 23, 2024
Michael Crow has done a lot of great things for ASU, but his handling of athletics has been outright incompetent and has held back the entire university as a result
— No Step on Snek (@NoSteponSnek77) May 23, 2024
Michelle Gardner contributed to this story.
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State University announces Graham Rossini as athletic director
