Wichita State Athletics

At Wichita State

• Wichita State University named Kevin Saal its 19th director of athletics on June 15, 2022.
• Dr. Rick Muma, Wichita State President, introduced Saal in front of a large crowd of Wichita State supporters and staff on June 17, 2022.
• "This is a new day for Shocker Athletics. As we look to the future of our program, I am incredibly pleased to welcome Kevin to Shocker Nation. Kevin returns to his home state of Kansas with a strong, forward-thinking vision for our men's and women's intercollegiate athletics programs," Muma said. "Kevin is just the person to move WSU's athletics program forward and push it to even greater heights." 
• "Jennifer and I are eager to return to our home state to engage and partner with Shocker student-athletes, coaches, administration, alumni, supporters and the greater Wichita community," Saal said. "With much work to be done, I look forward to continuing to develop WSU's championship culture through our strategic vision, core values, a first-class student-athlete experience and, ultimately, competitive excellence. Go Shockers!" 
• "With an incredible focus on education and a competitive spirit, Kevin brings an integrity and discipline that is the foundation for moving teams to a championship culture," said University of Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart. "His passion and capacity for college athletics is balanced by a love and care for people at the highest, most genuine level. His experience at every level in athletics provides WSU and the community with a proven leader going forward." 
• Brings a tremendous work ethic and knowledge of key areas in college athletics to Wichita State, including personnel development and supervision.
• In his role as Director of Athletics, Saal will report to Muma and be responsible for managing, planning and directing the operations of the university's intercollegiate athletics programs. He will also be responsible for managing oversight of sponsorships, fundraising, partnerships, marketing, public relations, strategic planning, compliance, academics, student-athlete development and performance, Name Image and Likeness (NIL), and hiring and mentoring coaches.  

  
Before Wichita State

• Served three years as the Director of Athletics at Murray State University (2019-22). He led the Racers through two athletic conference realignment/transition processes and took the department to new heights with increases in student-athlete APR, league championships and appearances in NCAA Tournament and postseason play.
• Served 12 years at the University of Kentucky where he held various roles before being named executive associate director of athletics.
• In 2007, joined the athletics staff at UK and enjoyed a working atmosphere that allowed for tremendous personal and professional growth under Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart.
• Showed solid leadership in the areas of sports administration, capital projects and facilities construction, budget and human resources management and championships administration.
• Excelled in developing relationships with donors at Kentucky by playing significant role in the friend-raising and fundraising process, including Athletics’ ongoing $500M commitment to the University of Kentucky’s $2.1B “Kentucky Can” capital campaign.
• Assisted in hosting 100 external events at the university that led to $350,000 in new revenue.
• Was heavily involved in unprecedented facilities growth as one of the leaders for the design and construction or renovation of eight UK athletics venues, including a $135M project to renovate Kroger Field for football and a $49M construction project to build Kentucky Proud Park for baseball.
• Saal had oversight of the Kentucky men’s soccer program (since 2010) and the baseball program (since 2013). After a nine-year NCAA drought, the soccer team participated in five of the next seven NCAA Tournaments.
• In 2017, UK baseball won its first NCAA regional title and made a first NCAA Super-Regional appearance in program history. His efforts for soccer and baseball included managing budgets, maintaining NCAA compliance, roster and academic performance and contract negotiations.
• In the area of championships administration, Saal led a department that hosted 50 championship events for the Southeastern Conference and NCAA.
• While at Kentucky, he led the effort to host Kentucky High School Athletic Association championships, which resulted in the football championships being hosted at UK for the first time since 1976.
• Worked at Kansas State (2000-05) where he was event coordinator and had administrative responsibilities supporting men’s and women’s golf and rowing.
• From 2005-07, was director of operations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Academic Career

• He began at the University of Arkansas (1995-96) as a swimming and diving student-athlete who majored in psychology.
• When the program was discontinued, he transferred and competed at Texas Christian University where he earned his B.S. in psychology in 1999.
• Earned a M.S. in athletics administration at the University of Kansas in 2000.
• Saal also completed his Doctorate in Education with a focus on P-20 and Community Leadership in 2024.

Personal

• Saal and his wife, Jennifer, both natives of Manhattan, Kan., have two sons, Jacob and Alex.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT KEVIN SAAL

"Wichita State has made a great hire in Kevin Saal. There is no doubt he will guide the Shockers with great success through these unique times in collegiate athletics. His commitment to students and their experience academically, athletically and socially will have an immediate impact on the department."  
— Mark Coyle, director of athletics, University of Minnesota  

"Wichita State has made an excellent choice in Kevin Saal to lead Athletics. Kevin brings a strong set of experiences along with the values and vision to lead WSU to the next level."  
— Rob Mullens, director of athletics, University of Oregon 

"Wichita State has landed a strong leader during an important time of transition in college athletics. I am excited for both Kevin and Jennifer for this next step but even more elated for what this means for Shocker Nation. Kevin has made a mark on every school he has worked at, and I have no doubt that Wichita State made the right choice to take them to the next level."  
— DeWayne Peevy, director of Athletics, DePaul University