Oregon State Announces Executive Leadership Realignment
September 29, 2026 | General
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University Athletics announced Tuesday comprehensive organizational realignments within its executive leadership team designed to optimize department operations, enhance sport-specific oversight and accelerate the execution of its strategic framework. The updates leverages internal executive expertise while introducing key national administrative and financial leadership to Corvallis.
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The realignments are structured to maximize team strengths, provide head coaches with enhanced direct support and sharpen focus on executing the department's strategic goals. Oregon State, by restructuring executive responsibilities and bringing in proven leaders from across collegiate athletics, positions itself to navigate the modern sports landscape while delivering an elite experience for student-athletes.
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Ragean Hill was announced Monday as Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Sports Performance & Operations Officer, reporting directly to Kevin Griffin, Vice President and Director of Athletics. Hill comes to Corvallis from Charlotte, where she served as Executive Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, bringing extensive administrative experience across the Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, CUSA, and AAC. In her new role, Hill will oversee sports supervisors, facility operations, compliance, sports performance, and NIL and revenue-share management.
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Jacque Bruns steps into the role of Deputy Athletic Director, Chief of Staff and Senior Woman Administrator, managing the department's core financial and personnel pillars. Reporting to Griffin, Bruns will oversee the business office as fiscal manager and direct human resources functions. She will direct capital planning and drive the execution of the department's 15-point strategic framework. As SWA, she will continue representing Oregon State at the Pac-12 and NCAA levels while serving as liaison to Academic Services. Bruns will also expand the department's commitment to student-athlete development and success alongside Nya Buckner, highlighted by the launch of the Student-Athlete Leadership Institute.
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Sara Elcano transitions into an expanded role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Administration, reporting to Hill. Elcano will serve as the administrative lead for NIL operations and the modern student-athlete revenue-sharing framework. She will also act as the executive liaison to the equipment staff, partner with University Marketing and Communications to drive licensing and retail revenue, lead promotional expansion efforts in the greater Portland area, and collaborate with alumni leadership to build a comprehensive student-athlete alumni network.
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Jeff Macy will continue providing executive leadership across health, wellness, and sports performance as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health, Wellness & Performance, while maintaining his responsibilities as a primary sport administrator.
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Sam Koken will continue serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities & Operations. While his core operational focus remains unchanged, Koken will work directly with athletic department leadership on the Gill Coliseum feasibility study, a revised master facility plan and the development of third-party revenue-generating events, including concerts and special entertainment.
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Hannah Rispler continues as Assistant Athletic Director and Executive Assistant, managing the Athletic Director's office, supporting overall strategy, and managing student-athlete revenue-sharing contract tracking alongside Hill and Elcano. To build administrative capacity, Rispler will shadow Bruns in supervising the Women's Soccer program through FY27, before officially assuming primary sport administrator duties following the 2027 season.
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Oregon State has also launched a national search, co-led by the department's executive leadership, for an Executive Associate Athletic Director of Brand & Commercial Operations. The incoming executive will oversee ticket sales, multimedia rights, sponsorships, sideline partnerships, marketing, public relations, game presentation and overall brand strategy.
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In addition to executive realignments, Oregon State has appointed Jennifer Del Valle as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Administration, effective Oct. 10. She's coming to Corvallis from UNLV, where she managed budget oversight, financial planning, and enterprise systems as interim senior associate athletic director. Del Valle will report to Bruns and will manage the daily operations of the Athletics Business Office, develop long-term financial strategies, oversee the annual operating budget and provide key financial decision support.
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Sport administration responsibilities across the staff have been distributed among the executive team. Hill will oversee football, men's basketball, volleyball and men's and women's golf. Elcano will supervise men's soccer, softball, men's and women's rowing, cross country and track and field. Bruns will supervise gymnastics and women's soccer, with Rispler assisting through the 2027 season. Macy will manage baseball and women's basketball, while Koken will oversee wrestling.
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The realignments are structured to maximize team strengths, provide head coaches with enhanced direct support and sharpen focus on executing the department's strategic goals. Oregon State, by restructuring executive responsibilities and bringing in proven leaders from across collegiate athletics, positions itself to navigate the modern sports landscape while delivering an elite experience for student-athletes.
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Ragean Hill was announced Monday as Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Sports Performance & Operations Officer, reporting directly to Kevin Griffin, Vice President and Director of Athletics. Hill comes to Corvallis from Charlotte, where she served as Executive Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator, bringing extensive administrative experience across the Big 12, SEC, Big Ten, CUSA, and AAC. In her new role, Hill will oversee sports supervisors, facility operations, compliance, sports performance, and NIL and revenue-share management.
Â
Jacque Bruns steps into the role of Deputy Athletic Director, Chief of Staff and Senior Woman Administrator, managing the department's core financial and personnel pillars. Reporting to Griffin, Bruns will oversee the business office as fiscal manager and direct human resources functions. She will direct capital planning and drive the execution of the department's 15-point strategic framework. As SWA, she will continue representing Oregon State at the Pac-12 and NCAA levels while serving as liaison to Academic Services. Bruns will also expand the department's commitment to student-athlete development and success alongside Nya Buckner, highlighted by the launch of the Student-Athlete Leadership Institute.
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Sara Elcano transitions into an expanded role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Administration, reporting to Hill. Elcano will serve as the administrative lead for NIL operations and the modern student-athlete revenue-sharing framework. She will also act as the executive liaison to the equipment staff, partner with University Marketing and Communications to drive licensing and retail revenue, lead promotional expansion efforts in the greater Portland area, and collaborate with alumni leadership to build a comprehensive student-athlete alumni network.
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Jeff Macy will continue providing executive leadership across health, wellness, and sports performance as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Health, Wellness & Performance, while maintaining his responsibilities as a primary sport administrator.
Â
Sam Koken will continue serving as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Facilities & Operations. While his core operational focus remains unchanged, Koken will work directly with athletic department leadership on the Gill Coliseum feasibility study, a revised master facility plan and the development of third-party revenue-generating events, including concerts and special entertainment.
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Hannah Rispler continues as Assistant Athletic Director and Executive Assistant, managing the Athletic Director's office, supporting overall strategy, and managing student-athlete revenue-sharing contract tracking alongside Hill and Elcano. To build administrative capacity, Rispler will shadow Bruns in supervising the Women's Soccer program through FY27, before officially assuming primary sport administrator duties following the 2027 season.
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Oregon State has also launched a national search, co-led by the department's executive leadership, for an Executive Associate Athletic Director of Brand & Commercial Operations. The incoming executive will oversee ticket sales, multimedia rights, sponsorships, sideline partnerships, marketing, public relations, game presentation and overall brand strategy.
Â
In addition to executive realignments, Oregon State has appointed Jennifer Del Valle as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Finance and Administration, effective Oct. 10. She's coming to Corvallis from UNLV, where she managed budget oversight, financial planning, and enterprise systems as interim senior associate athletic director. Del Valle will report to Bruns and will manage the daily operations of the Athletics Business Office, develop long-term financial strategies, oversee the annual operating budget and provide key financial decision support.
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Sport administration responsibilities across the staff have been distributed among the executive team. Hill will oversee football, men's basketball, volleyball and men's and women's golf. Elcano will supervise men's soccer, softball, men's and women's rowing, cross country and track and field. Bruns will supervise gymnastics and women's soccer, with Rispler assisting through the 2027 season. Macy will manage baseball and women's basketball, while Koken will oversee wrestling.
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Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29
Monday, September 28
Monday, September 28
