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Northwestern has officially found its next athletic director.
Friday morning, the university announced that it has hired Derrick Gragg to be the next leader of Northwestern’s athletic department. He is scheduled to begin in his new role on July 1, according to a release from Northwestern.
Gragg brings 15 years of experience to the job in Evanston. He started out as an athletic director at Eastern Michigan in 2006, a role he was in until 2013. Gragg then took on the same job at Tulsa in 2013.
“I am thrilled and humbled to join the Northwestern University family at this pivotal moment in college athletics,” Gragg said. “My career has been shaped by an unwavering belief in the potential of student-athletes to excel in all areas. These young people need more support than ever in the midst of challenging, changing and exciting times. I look forward to joining an incredible roster of coaches and staff in Evanston on this collaborative mission to help our Wildcats achieve at the highest level as students, as athletes and as people.”
“It was essential for us to find the right leader for the next chapter at Northwestern — someone who can build both academic and athletic excellence at a time of rapid change in the intercollegiate sports landscape, and also someone who can create the best possible environment for students, staff and coaches,” said Northwestern University president Morton Schapiro. “After talking extensively with Derrick, it was clear that he was the ideal person for the job.”
Gragg most recently served as the NCAA’s senior vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB