Arizona State to promote Graham Rossini as next VP of athletics

Arizona State is set to promote Graham Rossini as its vice president of athletics, a source briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic.

Rossini has worked in college and pro sports, holding senior positions within Arizona State athletics since 2021. He most recently worked as executive senior associate athletic director and chief business officer. A 2002 Arizona State graduate, Rossini replaces Ray Anderson, who resigned in November.

SunDevilSource first reported the expected hire.

Rossini takes over at a challenging time for the Sun Devils. The football program recently received four years probation and other negotiated penalties for breaking NCAA rules put in place during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period. The men’s basketball program needs a new or renovated arena as well as stronger financial support. The once-proud baseball program hasn’t advanced to the College World Series since 2010.

More than anything, Arizona State needs stronger fundraising, particularly within the name, image and likeness landscape. Under university president Michael Crow, Arizona State was slow to embrace this development, setting the athletic department behind its peers. The decision stalled all three anchor programs, frustrating the fan base, which has questioned the administration’s commitment to its major sports.

Rossini’s hire is the biggest Arizona State has made in wake of the football investigation. Anderson was never accused of wrongdoing, but he drew criticism from fans and media for supporting then-head coach and close friend Herm Edwards throughout the controversy. Deputy athletics director Jean Boyd, a respected voice within the department who oversaw the football program, recently announced he would step down this summer.

Fans pushed for Arizona State to bring in an outside candidate to replace Anderson, who held the role for nearly a decade, to distance itself from the recent past. Jim Rund, senior vice president of educational outreach and student services, held the position on an interim basis.

Arizona State is set to compete in the Big 12 this fall, making the transition along with former Pac-12 schools Utah, Colorado and rival Arizona. Crow has always looked at Stanford as a model: strong in academics and competitive across all sports. That has been reflected in how he compensates the university’s athletic directors. In 2022, for example, Anderson, who was among the highest-paid athletic administrators in the country, was eligible for nearly $500,000 in academic bonuses alone.

In previous roles, Rossini has led Arizona State efforts to increase ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and philanthropic contributions with a particular focus on NIL, fan experience and letterwinner outreach. Notably, he helped secure the naming rights to Mountain America Stadium (previously Sun Devil Stadium) and a 10-year extension for the naming rights to Desert Financial Arena.

Rossini previously worked 13 years as a vice president for the Arizona Diamondbacks, where his responsibilities included ticketing and corporate sponsorships. He also oversaw the design, construction and marketing of Salt River Fields, the organization’s spring training complex.

Kenny Dillingham, an Arizona State graduate, replaced Edwards as head coach and went 3-9 in his first football season. His enthusiasm, passion and “Activate the Valley” campaign have energized fans, but the program, which recently lost quarterback Jaden Rashada and standout receiver Elijhah Badger to the transfer portal, still has not recovered from the Edwards fallout. After a slow start, the program has recruited better, but it still is predicted to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 next season.

Men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley has led Arizona State to three NCAA Tournaments in nine seasons, although he likely would have added a fourth had the 2020 tournament not been canceled. Despite NIL challenges, Hurley and his staff have 2024’s No. 8 recruiting class, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. Head baseball coach Willie Bloomquist, an Arizona State product in his third season, is still building his program.

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(Photo: Kirby Lee / Image of Sport / USA Today)