Northwestern University Athletics
Goff Named New Kansas AD
4/5/2021 9:01:00 PM | General
LAWRENCE, Kansas – Northwestern Deputy Athletic Director/Assistant Vice President Travis Goff is the new Director of Athletics at the University of Kansas, Chancellor Douglas Girod announced Monday. It is a homecoming for the Dodge City, Kansas, native and Jayhawk alum after a transformational nine years in Evanston.
Getting to return to your alma mater as the Director of Athletics...
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) April 6, 2021
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"It truly is an honor and a privilege to steward the next chapter of Kansas Athletics, and I am extremely grateful to Chancellor Girod for his belief in me and our shared vision for the future," Goff said. "With a long history of success, unwavering partnership with campus leaders, and the unparalleled passion of the Jayhawk fanbase, this is one of the most humbling responsibilities and opportunities in college athletics. Our purpose will remain focused on fostering our student-athletes' academic, social and athletic development; supporting our talented coaches and staff; connecting with alumni and donors; and, most importantly, building a culture that allows 16 proud programs to compete for Big 12 Conference and national championships while representing our department, our institution and our community. As a native Kansan and Jayhawk alumnus, I'm thrilled to return to Lawrence with my family and to continue to make this department a point of pride for our entire university. I cannot wait to get started!"
Goff's leadership of Athletics & Recreation development, along with a team he built from scratch upon arrival, resulted in unprecedented fundraising success for the Wildcats with nearly $500 million committed to support the department. That success fueled a dramatic facilities transformation during his tenure. In 2018 Northwestern unveiled a $270 million project alongside Lake Michigan, including the 100,000 square-foot Ryan Fieldhouse, an indoor practice space that has supported the preparation of all 19 Wildcats varsity programs and hosted competition for lacrosse and soccer, and Walter Athletics Center, the new hub of the student-athlete experience including state-of-the-art developmental amenities for academic, sports medicine, athletic training, nutrition, professional development and sports performance support.
He also led the fundraising effort for the $110 million renovation of Welsh-Ryan Arena, the competitive home of Wildcats men's and women's basketball, volleyball and wrestling. Alongside the arena, Northwestern opened the $25 million Trienens Performance Center, a new dedicated basketball and volleyball practice facility, and indoor training center for baseball and softball. In 2019, a completely renovated Gleacher Golf Center and Patten Gymnasium opened on Sheridan road as the home for golf and fencing.
"Our search for an athletics director during the past several weeks resulted in conversations with a number of outstanding candidates, which speaks well of KU on the national stage," Girod said. "Travis stood out among the candidates due to his experience, his reputation as a man of integrity, and his demonstrated ability to connect with faculty, staff, alumni and donors. I am especially impressed with Travis' vision for KU. Travis understands the challenges we face and the changing landscape of collegiate athletics. At the same time, he is well-positioned to help us build on our recent successes in student-athlete healthcare, diversity and inclusion, and student-athlete academic achievement. The fact that he is a Jayhawk is an added bonus and will undoubtedly serve him well as he moves Kansas Athletics forward."
Goff, who received his Kansas degree in journalism and sociology, is married to the former Nancy Kockott, a 2005 Tulane alumna (MBA 2008) and former tennis standout for the Green Wave. Together they have two daughters, Ellie and Carly, and a son, Graham.
The Goffs have arrived in Lawrence...??
— Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) April 6, 2021
ROCK CHALK! pic.twitter.com/3A8qPNCDzC
