PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State Director of Athletics Patrick Chun announced the addition of veteran collegiate administrator Bryan Blair to the Cougars' senior administrative staff Monday. He will begin his duties in Pullman Aug. 13.
 
"We are excited to welcome Bryan, Jenna and Brielle to the Cougar Family," said Chun. "Bryan is a great addition to our athletics team. He will play an important leadership role in our department and his background and talents will add great depth to our administrative team. We look forward to Bryan and his family impacting our student-athletes, coaches and community."  
 
Blair will serve as WSU's Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration and will be the sport administrator for football, swimming, tennis and track and field. Additionally, he will oversee the Student-Athlete Development & Wellbeing areas.
 
"I'm extremely grateful to Pat Chun for the opportunity to join the Washington State University family," said Blair. "There are many institutions with Division I athletics across the country, however very few exhibit the unwavering passion and pride of Coug Nation! I entered a career in college athletics because I believe in the power of sports to change lives and unite in a way that little else can. The opportunity to serve a premier Pac-12 institution, in such a picturesque location is truly a blessing. My family and I can't wait to get to Pullman and work tirelessly to help WSU Athletics reach new heights!"
 
Blair arrives in Pullman after spending the past four years at Rice University, where he served as a senior associate athletic director for sport administration & compliance. At Rice, he served as a member of the athletics department's senior leadership team, overseeing six of the department's 16 NCAA Division I sports. As sport administrator, he oversaw all aspects of each program, including responsibility for personnel, budgeting, facility projects, fundraising, student-athlete welfare and overall program evaluation.
 
In addition to his sport oversight responsibilities, Blair coordinated Rice's NCAA compliance efforts while supervising sports medicine, strength & conditioning, and sports nutrition, and served as the advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
Blair was selected among 25 senior-level administrators from across the country to participate in the prestigious 2017 NCAA Pathway Program. The program is designed to elevate those currently in senior-level positions within athletics administration to the next step in reaching their goal of becoming directors of athletics. The year-long program is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
 
In 2016, Blair was chosen for the nationally acclaimed D1A Institute (now "LEAD1"). The goal of the institute is to help the participants, nominated by their universities' athletics directors, be better prepared to move into the role of athletics director. After the Institute, Blair was recognized by LEAD1 President and CEO, Tom McMillen, as a "Future Leader of College Sports".
 
Blair is a member of several national professional organizations, including serving on the National Sports Forum's Business of Diversity in Sports and Entertainment committee. The National Sports Forum is the largest annual cross gathering of sports executives in the areas of revenue generation, specifically sports marketing, ticket sales and sponsorship. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), and as a member of their Strategic Initiatives and Professional Development committees, respectively. Blair was given the 2014 Rising Star Award by NAAC, which recognizes a young compliance professional who is considered to be an emerging leader within the compliance profession.
 
Previous stints in his career include the University of South Carolina, a previous stop at Rice and the NCAA national headquarters.
 
A former Division I football letterman and team captain, Blair graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. At Wofford, he served as a member of SAAC and was recognized as Defensive Lineman of the Year, his final season. The Bennettsville, S.C. native received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. 
 
Blair and his wife, Jenna, are parents to daughter Brielle, and two "puppies," Kongo and Finney.