Wichita State University has fired its athletic director, Darron Boatright. He had served in the position since August, 2016 after serving in other roles in the athletic department. He had signed a contract extension that would have kept him in office through June, 2024.
WSU President Dr. Richard Muma released a statement on the decision:
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.
A group called Save Shocker Sports has been raising concerns in recent months about issues related to Name, Image Likeness agreements with athletes, facilities and fundraising. Several men’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal after the past season.
