Sheahon Zenger

Sheahon Zenger
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born (1966-04-13) April 13, 1966
Salina, Kansas
Alma mater Kansas State University
University of Kansas
Playing career
1983–1984 MidAmerica Nazarene
1985–1986 Fort Hays State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988 Drake (graduate asst.)
1989–1995 Kansas State (recruiting coord.)
1996 South Florida (recruiting coord.)
1997–2001 Wyoming (recruiting coord./assit.)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2002–2005 Kansas State (assistant AD)
2005–2010 Illinois State
2011–2018 Kansas

Sheahon Jay Zenger (born April 13, 1966) is an American former university sports administrator and an assistant American football coach. Zenger was most recently the athletic director at the University of Kansas, serving from 2011 to 2018.[1] He was previously the athletic director at Illinois State University.[2]

Career

Early career

Zenger played football for MidAmerica Nazarene University for two years before finishing his football career at Fort Hays State University.[3] After the football season was over in 1986, Zenger transferred to Kansas State University where he graduated in 1987. Zenger then began his career in athletics as a recruiting coordinator for the Kansas State football team in 1988 while completing his master's degree.[4] He completed his doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1996.[5] Zenger later served as the recruiting coordinator at University of South Florida in 1996 and then moved to Wyoming for the same position, holding that position until 2001.[6] In 2001, Zenger moved back to Kansas to become the assistant athletic director for development at Kansas State University, a position he would hold from 2001 to 2004.[7]

Illinois State

In April 2005, Zenger was named the next athletic director at Illinois State University.[8] While at Illinois State, Zenger focused on athletes' academics increasing their grade point averages, resulting in more scholarship opportunities through donors.[9] Zenger also contracted with Nike and multi-million dollar renovations to athletic facilities.

University of Kansas

In January 2011, Zenger was named the next athletics director for the University of Kansas.[10] One month later on February 1, 2011, Zenger officially took over the Kansas Athletics Department after the school was battling a ticket scandal from former employees.[11] During his time at Kansas, Zenger has hired two football coaches, Charlie Weis and David Beaty in hopes to produce a winning program.[12] Since September 2017, Zenger has spearheaded a $350 million campaign to renovate Memorial Stadium and rename it to the "David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium",[13] after alumni David Booth pledged $50 million to the Athletics Department.[14] Zenger was fired on May 21, 2018 due to a "lack of progress" within the department.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Chancellor Girod fires KU Athletic Director Sheahon Zenger, citing lack of progress and necessary change in leadership". LJWorld.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  2. ↑ Keegan, Tom (January 3, 2011). "New KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger has deep local roots". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Kansas welcomes Zenger into fold". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  4. ↑ "KU names Sheahon Zenger new athletic director". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Sheahon Zenger - Staff Directory - University of Kansas Athletics". Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  6. ↑ Press, Associated. "Kansas hires Sheahon Zenger as AD". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ↑ "KU welcomes new A.D. Sheahon Zenger". LJWorld.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Zenger Named Athletics Director - Illinois State University". Illinois State University. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ "KU names Sheahon Zenger director of athletics - KU News". archive.news.ku.edu. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  10. ↑ Draper, Bill (January 3, 2011). "Zenger leaves ISU, takes reins as new Kansas AD". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Charges brought in $2M theft of Kansas tickets". ESPN.com. November 18, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  12. ↑ "The mistakes, failures and possible success of Kansas AD Sheahon Zenger". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  13. ↑ "KU gets approval to rename football stadium to include major donor's name". Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Largest gift in KAI history kicks off $350M campaign focused primarily on football". University of Kansas Athletics. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Chancellor announces leadership change in Kansas Athletics". May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
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