(West Lafayette, IN) – Purdue University plans to hire Rice University athletic director Tommy McClelland to lead the Boilermakers’ athletic department, according to multiple reports.
Ross-Ade Stadium at Purdue University. Public-domain photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that Purdue had selected McClelland to succeed Mike Bobinski. ESPN also reported that the university had finalized an agreement with McClelland.
The person who spoke with the AP requested anonymity because Purdue had not formally announced the hiring. An official announcement is expected soon.
McClelland, 44, has served as Rice’s vice president and director of athletics since August 2023. During his time in Houston, Rice announced plans to renovate Rice Stadium, established a women’s golf program and created a fund supporting name, image and likeness opportunities and direct benefits for athletes.
McClelland also hired Rice football coach Scott Abell and men’s basketball coach Rob Lanier.
Before joining Rice, McClelland spent three years as deputy athletic director at Vanderbilt University. His responsibilities included oversight of the football program, external affairs and revenue generation.
McClelland helped lead Vandy United, the largest athletic fundraising campaign in Vanderbilt history. The campaign raised more than $300 million for new and renovated athletic facilities.
He previously served as athletic director at Louisiana Tech from 2013 through 2020 and at McNeese State from 2008 through 2013. McClelland was 26 when McNeese State hired him, making him the youngest athletic director in NCAA Division I at the time.
His tenure at Louisiana Tech included fundraising, facility improvements and several coaching hires as the school transitioned into Conference USA. At McNeese State, the athletic department raised more than $3 million in private donations and increased corporate sponsorship revenue to nearly $1 million annually.
McClelland will take over a Purdue athletic department with 18 varsity sports and growing financial demands created by athlete revenue sharing, name, image and likeness compensation and increased competition within the Big Ten Conference.
Bobinski announced June 3 that he will retire Dec. 31. The 68-year-old has led Purdue Athletics since August 2016 following previous stops at Georgia Tech, Xavier University and the University of Akron.
Bobinski is only the fourth full-time athletic director at Purdue since 1942.