Contact for News Reporters: Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, director of news and media relations, 316-978-3409 or lainie.mazzullo@wichita.edu.
The following message is from Wichita State University President Richard Muma:
Dear Shocker Nation:
Today, I write to let you know of a transition in our Department of Athletics. Earlier
today, I informed Director of Athletics Darron Boatright, who has served the Shockers
for 12 years, six as the full-time director, that we are making a change in the leadership
of the department.
While there were certainly achievements and successes during Darron’s tenure, there
were significant, ongoing concerns that became acute in recent weeks, ones that I
did not believe could be addressed. This decision is in the best interests of Wichita
State, our coaches and staff, and our student-athletes.
I have asked Senior Associate Athletic Director / SWA Sarah Adams to serve as our
Interim Director of Athletics and I am confident that she will provide us with the
leadership, stability and compassion needed during the transition.
As all of you know, Wichita State University is on the rise, and our athletics program
plays an important role in our institutional momentum. With incredible fans and supporters,
talented coaches and support staff, a campus committed to excellence and, most importantly,
hard-working student-athletes, we are poised for great success. With the assistance
of an experienced search firm, we will immediately launch a national search for a
new Director of Athletics who shares our values, our vision and our passion for Shocker
sports and will work expediently but diligently to identify a new leader of our athletics
program. I look forward to introducing our new leader of our Department of Athletics,
who will elevate us to unprecedented heights.
Sincerely,
Dr. Richard Muma President
Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling
more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries.
Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation
driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in
the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),
Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of
applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one
of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing
over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
