Pat Kraft took a seat behind his new desk for the first time and was overwhelmed with emotion. The former deputy director of athletics looked at the cherry and white walls that made up his new office as the university’s athletic director thought of his father, who died two years ago.
“I had that moment where I was like, ‘My goals are to be there and be where I am now,’” Kraft said. “I had that zen moment, and I thought about my dad, and I’m going to do what’s right. I’m going to be me.”
Kraft replaced Kevin Clark, who was named executive vice president and chief operating officer in May after two years as the head of athletics.