Patrick Chun was introduced as Florida Atlantic University's director of athletics July 2, 2012. The announcement brought to a close a two-month national search by FAU President Mary Jane Saunders.
"FAU is thrilled to welcome Pat Chun as the director of athletics," Saunders said. "His experience and accomplishments at The Ohio State University speak to what Pat brings to FAU as a leader in college athletics. There is an exciting future ahead for FAU athletics, and we are lucky to have Pat at the helm of this department."
Chun, 37, came to FAU after 15 years with The Ohio State University department of athletics, where he held numerous roles within the Buckeye athletics department in development, endowment building, strategic planning, management and leadership. During his time at OSU, Chun helped foster the continued growth and success of the most comprehensive Division I athletics program in the country. Ohio State athletics provides services for more than 1,000 student-athletes, 36 intercollegiate athletic programs, 100 coaches, and more than 330 full-time athletic department staff in 15 facilities. The Ohio State athletics operating budget is in excess of $126 million.
Chun concluded his career at OSU as the executive associate athletics director for external relations, where he provided leadership and oversight for all facets of the 15 areas comprised in the external relations division. These areas included: development, ticketing, fan experience and promotions, multimedia rights partnership (IMG College), communications, public relations and branding, creative services, merchandising, website, video, alumni relations, community relations, golf course, the Big Ten Network, band and cheerleading. The division encompasses more than 90 full-time employees.
In this position, Chun oversaw a 20 percent increase annually in overall giving to the Ohio State department of athletics, totaling $117.8 million in three years. This was accomplished through the completion of fundraising campaigns for approximately $22 million in capital projects, including: $10.5 million for basketball practice facility enhancements and renovations; $6.25 million for outdoor football fields/beautification project; $3.1 million for an outdoor tennis facility; $1 million for a field hockey venue; and $1 million for turf replacement for the baseball stadium.
Chun also was a member of the core athletics department senior team that authored and consummated the largest multimedia rights deal in intercollegiate athletics history: a 10-year, $128 million partnership with IMG College in 2009.
Chun began his intercollegiate athletics career in the Ohio State athletics communications office in 1997. There he served as assistant director of athletics communications working primarily with the football and baseball programs. Chun then moved to development in 2002 where he began and excelled in his position as the director of the Buckeye Club. He managed the annual fund drive for three years, a period during which it generated more than $22 million.
In 2005, Chun was named director of development with a focus on major gift fundraising for endowments and capital projects. He took a leadership role in the fundraising and completion of the $21 million football facility renovation and enhancement project. Soon after, Chun was promoted to assistant athletics director for development. During this time, his efforts helped ensure the completion of three key capital projects: a $5.1 million softball stadium project; $3 million boathouse; and a $3.3 million indoor tennis facility.
In 2008, Chun was elevated into the role of deputy senior associate athletics director. In this capacity Chun managed and directed the external relations division and had daily oversight of the development office.
Chun serves on the executive committee for the National Association for Athletics Development Directors (NAADD) and is a board member for the Columbus, Ohio chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. In 2011, Chun was selected for the inaugural class of the Division 1A Athletics Directors Association Fellowship Program.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio and graduate of Holy Name High School, Chun earned a bachelor's degree from OSU in 1997 and a master's degree from Duquesne University in 2008. He and his wife, Natalie, also an OSU alumna, have three daughters: Vanna, Kennedy and Gretta.
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