Oakland Names Jeff Konya as Director of Athletics

Oakland University interim President Betty J. Youngblood is pleased to announce that Jeffrey F. Konya has been appointed director of athletics effective August 11, 2014. Konya is currently the athletics director of the California State University Bakersfield (CSUB) athletics department, where he has worked since 2010.

Konya replaces Robby Stewart, who has been serving as interim director of athletics since February 1. Former Athletic Director Tracy Huth left the position at that time to move to California, although he continued to serve in a part-time advisory role through June 30, 2014.

Konya has overseen all operational aspects of an 18-sport NCAA Division I athletics department at CSUB with an estimated $11 million annual budget, more than 60 coaches and staff, and approximately 350 student-athletes. He executed a strategic plan to gain primary conference memberships in the WAC, which occurred in October 2012, and affiliate memberships prior to that date: men's soccer to the Pac 12, baseball to the WAC, and softball to the WCC. In 2012, CSUB athletics fundraising ranked first nationally when compared to similar public I-AAA institutions, and this fiscal year which concluded on June 30, 2014, CSUB Athletics set all time institutional record highs in scholarship fund dollars raised ($603,000) and overall fundraising (over $2,000,000). Also, he is a member of the NCAA men's soccer selection committee.

"Jeffrey Konya is a veteran leader with close to 20 years of athletics department experience and a record of progressively increased leadership responsibilities," said Betty Youngblood. "He has been a member of several Division I athletics senior leadership teams that have seen success both internally and externally over the past several years."

"It is my responsibility as a leader and educator to create an environment for our student-athletes to be successful academically, athletically and socially," Konya said. "I firmly believe student-athlete development must be a priority and that our efforts are integrated with campus initiatives and opportunities."

Konya is widely recognized as an innovator in athletics marketing. His 2012 CSUB "New Gold Standard" campaign was named a National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) Finalist for the Division I athletics marketing department of the year. It was a campaign that featured his implementation of the "blue basketball court," which is routinely credited as one of the first unique basketball court visual brands in the marketplace and one of the best overall designs.

"In my perception, Oakland University has a high ceiling for its athletics department and can quickly grow into one of the Top 10 properties in its respective NCAA classification. In reaching this potential, it is my responsibility to be fiscally sound in practice and to seek revenue opportunities for growth, as well as to maintain an inclusive environment that values gender equity and cultural diversity for all members of the department while being reflective of the mission of the institution," he added.

Konya completed his Juris Doctor with honors in 1998 at the University of Iowa College of Law and his bachelor of arts in 1995 from Princeton University. Previous work experiences include being the athletics director at Northeastern State (OK) and serving in senior athletics leadership capacities at such institutions as SMU, Memphis, Bucknell and UTSA. He was born in Royal Oak, Mich., spent part of his youth living in West Bloomfield, Mich., and is an avid Detroit sports fan.

(Release courtesy of Oakland Athletics)