Hiring Day Coverage

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Mike Bobinski began his tenure as athletics director Thursday, and his first order of business was to meet the department staff and set the tone for a bright future.

"It's easy to say that we want to be great, that we want to be excellent. Obviously, it's a lot harder to do," Bobinski said. "The first step is for everybody to believe it. You have to believe that greater things are achievable. Then, you have to say it, and have the courage to say, 'we can do more.' Then, you have to bring the focus, the persistence, the everyday effort to make it happen. That's me; that's everybody. Doing our jobs with a focus on getting better, being great and being champions is a different level. When you can string together day after day after day of bringing that to work, some really good things will happen. We will win championships, do right by our student-athletes, do right by the Purdue community and have an awful lot of fun along the way."

Tonight, Bobinski will meet all Boilermaker student-athletes.

"I truly believe my values are in line with what you are about, what this department is about," Bobinski said. "You and I share a passion for our student-athletes and for Purdue, and that's a great common ground. As long as we stay together on those things, we're going to have a great time."

Bobinski was hired Aug. 9 to replace Morgan Burke, who served as athletics director since 1993.

"For me, this is an awesome professional and personal opportunity," Bobinski said. "It's a capstone opportunity of my career. I believe that in every single way. I'm honored to join a group of people like you. I know what you're about and what you stand for.

"Morgan is going to part of the fabric of Purdue from now until the end of time, as it should be. I'm honored to follow in his footsteps."

Bobinski has worked as a collegiate athletics administrator for more than 30 years with successful stints as athletics director at Georgia Tech (2013-16), Xavier (1998-2004, 2006-13) and Akron (1994-98). Between stints as AD at Xavier, he served as associate vice president for development, overseeing all of the university's fundraising efforts, including major gifts, grant services and annual and planned giving.

Purdue Athletics will document Bobinski's first three days on the job via a video feature, which will be released Monday.