Kevin Griffin, Oregon State’s incoming vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, made one thing clear at his introductory press conference on Tuesday: winning is his top priority.
“We are going to win, and it takes all of us to do that,” Griffin said.
Not “win, and,” he mentioned throughout his first public appearance in Corvallis. Just win.
Griffin will be taking over the athletic director position from Scott Barnes starting on July 6. Just before his start date on the first of the month, the reconstructed Pac-12 will officially begin. He is also inheriting a program with new head coaches in football and men’s basketball.
Securing victory in the Pac-12 was a focal point for Griffin. He mentioned several times that Oregon State’s “rightful place is atop the Pac-12 mountain”. Griffin said that he hopes that athletes competing in every single sport for OSU grind and carry themselves in such a way that anybody who watched them could tell that they’re Oregon State athletes, even if they weren’t in uniform.
“To me it’s important that when people think about the Pac-12 as we go forward, the very first school they think about is Oregon State,” Griffin said. “We have to lead. We have to lead.”
Griffin said that he wants people across the country to realize the quality of people and play both at OSU and in the Pac-12 at large. He said that it’s important for the content to get out to people, such as games being broadcast on TV, so that people can learn about the conference and the Pac-12 can build an identity.
Despite coming into the position in July, Griffin said that there is no offseason. His immediate plans are to share his vision with his staff and to make sure it can be made possible, prepare for the football season and other fall sports and to set plans for the next 90 and 120 days. He stressed the importance of starting strong and keeping the process collaborative.
“He’s determined, and like he said, he wants to win,” Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said after the press conference. Murthy praised Griffin for being an adaptable brand-builder with a strong focus on the future.
Griffin said that he thinks about the world in terms of student-athlete development and that he loves working with students. He said that he wants to keep athletes healthy, growing, prepared for life after college and having fun – but he also wants to win.
“Those things matter, but it’s a heck of a lot better when you’re also winning,” Griffin said.
Griffin comes from a business and marketing background, most recently working as the associate director of athletics, business strategy for Ohio State University, with work in brand engagement.
Some of Griffin’s introductory speech was dedicated to outlining his vision for securing money for the university, which include pursuing a robust Name, Image and Likeness strategy and seeking forms of sustainable revenue generation.
“My kids are older,” Griffin said. “They’re not in the house. I have nothing else to do but this job.”
