Pete Thamel
ESPN
2 Minute Read
The University of Washington is on the verge of finalizing its agreement with Troy Dannen, the athletic director of Tulane, to become their new athletic director, according to sources from ESPN.
Troy Dannen has held the position of athletic director at Tulane since December 2015, contributing significantly to the rise of the school’s football program, transforming it into one of the strongest Group of 5 programs in the nation. Under Dannen’s leadership, Tulane achieved a conference championship and an impressive victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl last season.
Assuming the role, Dannen will lead Washington into their inaugural season in the Big Ten in 2024-25. The university recently joined the Big Ten and is currently ranked No. 7 in the country for football, with head coach Kalen DeBoer emerging as one of the most promising young coaches in the sport.
Dannen’s extensive experience in the football industry was a key factor in Washington’s decision to appoint him, given his position as the chair of the NCAA Football Competition Committee for the past four years and his membership on the Football Oversight Committee’s executive committee.
Troy Dannen replaces Jen Cohen, who departed for USC in August. Notably, he will be the first external athletic director to assume the role at Washington since Todd Turner in 2004. Both Scott Woodward and Cohen were internal promotions.
During his first week at Tulane, Dannen hired Willie Fritz as the head coach, a move that sparked the team’s success. Last year, Tulane secured their first league title since 1998 and went on to win the Cotton Bowl, ultimately earning a No. 9 final ranking. Additionally, the Tulane basketball team, under the guidance of Ron Hunter, achieved 20 victories last season, making it one of the most memorable years in Tulane’s athletic history.
As the current football season unfolds, Tulane has started with a 4-1 record and is favored to retain their title in the American Athletic Conference. Coach Fritz has led the team to four bowl games during his tenure, matching the total number of appearances they had from 1987 to 2013.
Prior to his tenure at Tulane, Troy Dannen served as the athletic director at Northern Iowa for eight years from 2008-15.
While at Tulane, Dannen played a key role on the Transformation Committee, a distinguished group led by Greg Sankey of the SEC and Julie Cromer of Ohio University. This committee was formed in 2021 to address the pressing issues shaping college sports.
Coincidentally, both Tulane and Washington have bye weeks scheduled for this week.
Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.