Arizona State athletic director Graham Rossini has been on the job for one year, which typically would make this a fine time to review his performance. But grading Rossini’s work is challenging — not because his tenure lacks accomplishments but because his chief achievement does not lend itself to a grade, or number.
How do you measure goodwill?
Since his appointment on May 23, 2024, Rossini has steered the Sun Devils into the Big 12, worked to upgrade their NIL resources, hired coaches, fired coaches, negotiated contract extensions, including one for himself, and hinted that major renovations are coming to Desert Financial Arena. (More on that momentarily.)
But the defining aspect of his tenure thus far is a near-complete overhaul of ASU’s approach to community engagement.
Admittedly, his predecessor, Ray Anderson, set a low bar in this regard. (And by low, we mean the gutter.) Rossini has replaced disdain with dedication and swapped out scowls for smiles.
Public-facing responsibilities have always been important for major college athletic directors. But in the era of NIL, roster construction depends heavily on financial support from fans and donors. The stronger the community ties, the deeper the interest and wider the reach, the more manageable the path to competitive success.
Rossini arrives early to events and stays late in order to interact with fans.
He has a weekly podcast and appears regularly on Phoenix radio stations throughout the football and basketball seasons.
And because he attended ASU and worked in the athletic department prior to ascending to the top spot, Rossini had no learning curve. He knew enough to avoid using the “sleeping giant” description that had grown so tired around Tempe. He understood Pat Tillman’s significance to the university.
The fast start allowed him to plunge into the repair work needed with a constituency that was turned off by Anderson and wary of anyone who worked for Anderson.
Rossini’s promotion was not well received in every nook and cranny of the ASU community. Anyone who watched Anderson and president Michael Crow bungle their way through a multi-year football crisis and show little regard for diehard fans was understandably skeptical of Crow’s decision to hire from within.
Yes, Rossini’s task has been made exponentially easier by the football program’s success and coach Kenny Dillingham’s popularity as a Sun Devil himself. The Big 12 title came from nowhere, resonated everywhere and placed checkbooks within easy reach.
But three of Rossini’s measurable successes are visible with football: He signed Dillingham to a five-year contract extension, worked with Dillingham to retain the entire coaching staff and helped muster the NIL funds needed to ensure the return of 16 starters.
Rossini also fired women’s basketball coach Natasha Adair, a poor fit, and hired Molly Miller following a successful four-year run at neighboring Grand Canyon.
But one year on the job does not a tenure make, even when those 365 days zoom past expectations. For Rossini, judgment awaits in two clear and vital forms:
— The future of men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley.
Related Articles
USC-Notre Dame series in doubt as CFP selection process causes concern Big 12 football: Brigham Young, Texas Tech lead our post-spring power rankings Pac-12, Mountain West begin mediation over legal beef Big 12 baseball tournament headed west starting in ’26 as conference deepens roots in new footprint CFB news recap: Playoff format discord, Saban talks Trump commissionRossini opted to retain Hurley in March following a season that began surprisingly well but rapidly deteriorated — and concluded with the worst record (13-20) of his ASU tenure.
On the job for a decade, Hurley has made the NCAA Tournament once in the post-COVID era and has yet to win a first-round game. The time for a change was March, but Rossini held off.
(Financial considerations played a role in the decision, an indication that central campus has retained a firm grip on Rossini’s department.)
Hurley is under contract through next season, creating the distinct possibility that Rossini will have to lead a high-pressure coaching search.
— The future of Desert Financial Arena.
ASU’s white whale is 51 years old and is in dire need of upgrades that university president Michael Crow has refused to support — until now.
Rossini told ArizonaSports.com in February that “an announcement” was coming “in a couple months.”
Since then: radio silence.
We suspect the Sun Devils will unveil plans for a multi-year renovation sometime this summer. If so, the great leap forward will instantly become Rossini’s biggest victory — at least of the type that can be quantified.
*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716
*** Follow me on the social media platform X: @WilnerHotline
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Arizona State AD Graham Rossini: Progress in Year 1, but major challenges remain )
Also on site :