Pat Chun
Since arriving in Pullman in January 2018, Washington State Director of Athletics Patrick Chun has overseen a transformation of Cougar Athletics, on and off of the field. From record student-athlete academic achievement to record-setting fundraising, from transformative facility projects to innovative student-welfare programming, Chun has had an immediate impact on WSU.
Upon his hiring, Chun became the 14th individual to lead Cougar athletics in school history and the first Asian-American athletic director to lead a Power 5 school. He also had another first in 2019, being named Under Armor Athletic Director of the Year, the first Cougar athletic director to receive the honor.
Under his leadership, Cougar programs have reached NCAA Championships in six sports, while student-athletes have collected 28 All-America certificates, 79 All-Conference, 461 Academic All-Conference selections and four conference champions.
Prior to WSU, Chun spent the prior five and a half years leading Florida Atlantic University athletics and the previous 15 years at Ohio State University in a multitude of roles from 1997 through 2012, culminating as the executive associate athletics director.
On a national level, Chun has served on the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee and was also named to the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) executive committee in 2016. Chun completed a three-year term on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee from 2013-16. He also serves as a mentor in the NCAA Pathways program. Chun had previously served on the executive committee for the National Association for Athletics Development Directors (NAADD) and was a longtime board member for the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. In 2011, Chun was selected for the inaugural class of the Division 1A Athletics Directors Association Fellowship Program.
Prior to FAU, Chun spent 15 years at Ohio State University working at his alma mater. During his tenure, he was promoted six times in the Department of Athletics, ultimately elevating to Executive Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. In his last role at Ohio State, Chun provided leadership and oversight for all facets of the external relations division from 2009-12.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Chun earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and a master’s degree from Duquesne University. He and his wife, Natalie, also an OSU alumna, have three daughters (Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta) who enjoy their dog (Little Brother).
