Fresno State announced Friday that Garrett Klassy has been named the next athletic director.
Klassy will join the university from the University of Houston, where he was the Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Revenue Officer.
The big picture: Fresno State has found its successor to former Athletic Director Terry Tumey in Klassy, who will officially start his new job on July 23.
- The university will hold an introductory press conference for Klassy next week.
What they’re saying: “I am deeply excited at the opportunity to work with Garrett,” said University President Saul Jiménez-Sandoval. “He comes with an impressive background in athletics, and demonstrates integrity, intentional passion, and strategic energy. As he grew up on a dairy farm, he lives our values, understands our culture and illustrates our work ethic at the highest levels.”
- Klassy said he is deeply honored and grateful to Jiménez-Sandoval for the opportunity.
- “This is an incredible moment for me and my family, and I am committed to working tirelessly to move Fresno State Athletics forward aggressively during this changing landscape of college athletics,” Klassy said. “I look forward to embracing the rich culture and values of the Central Valley, and I am excited to engage with the passionate Red Wave fan base. Together, we will build on our traditions and achieve new heights of success.”
Go deeper: Klassy had served in his role at Houston since June 2023, which followed previous jobs at Nebraska, University of Illinois Chicago – where he was the athletic director – Oregon, Alabama and Wisconsin.
- He was part of the team at Houston that helped plan and execute the university’s move to the Big 12.
- At Nebraska, Klassy was in charge of day-to-day operations and launched the university’s name image and likeness initiative.
- Klassy also managed Nebraska’s GO BIG capital fundraising initiative to bring in $100 million to construct a new football operations facility.
