Stanford has hired former Nike CEO John Donahoe as its new athletic director, marking a shift from a more traditional hire to one with extensive business experience rather than just a typical sports administration background.

Nearly a year after leaving the top job at Nike, former Swoosh chief executive officer John Donahoe has joined Stanford University as the next athletic director. He will begin at Stanford on Sept. 8. Jon Levin, president of Stanford University, said in a statement that the university needed a “distinctive leader” to fill this role.

Stanford University has hired a new athletic director, tapping school alum and former Nike CEO John Donahoe for the high-profile role, the university announced on Thursday, Aug. 1. In his new role, which he will begin on Sept.

Stanford tapped veteran executive John Donahoe, former Nike CEO and longtime supporter, to succeed Bernard Muir as athletic director.

Former Nike and eBay CEO John Donahoe has been named as Stanford's athletic director after school officials viewed him as a "unicorn candidate" because of his business ties and history at the school.

Former Nike CEO John Donahoe will take over as the athletic director at Stanford, where he earned his graduate degree.

Nike co-founder and fellow Stanford alum Phil Knight said in a statement that “Stanford has made an excellent choice for its new athletic director in John Donahoe.” Nike's embrace of digital tech, AI evolves Nike's highest-paid employee?