Diana Sabau Named USU’s New Athletic Director
Yesterday, Diana Sabau was announced as Utah State University’s new athletic director following a nationwide search. Sabau succeeds interim athletic director Jerry Bovee, who stepped in after the resignation of John Hartwell in November. Sabau will start on Aug. 21.
“I’m thrilled Diana will join the Aggie family at the helm of USU Athletics. She is perfect for this moment and for elevating Aggie Athletics to the next level,” said Elizabeth Cantwell, the newly-hired university president.
Sabau comes to USU with an impressive resume, including nearly 30 years of experience in college athletics. Most recently, she served as deputy commissioner and chief sports officer for the Big Ten Conference, overseeing administration of all 28 sponsored sports. She brings specific experience in administration of football, basketball, hockey, Olympic sports and officiating.
Prior to joining the Big Ten, Sabau worked as senior deputy athletics director at Ohio State University. There, she served as sport administrator for football, women’s ice hockey and the co-ed rifle and pistol programs. During her time, the Ohio State football team won four consecutive Big Ten championships and participated in the college football playoffs.
Utah State worked with search firm Collegiate Sports Associates Executive Search & Consulting to collect applications and vet candidates. Sabau thanked Cantwell and the committee in a statement.
“I am humbled by this tremendous opportunity to lead Utah State Athletics and I am so grateful to President Cantwell for her belief and confidence in me as well as to the members of the search committee,” Sabau said. “I am energized to serve our Aggie student-athletes, coaches, staff, university, alumni, donors and the Logan community. We will compete for championships with integrity and we will build on the current momentum of Utah State Athletics.”
This decision came just one month after university President Elizabeth Cantwell stepped into her new position.
“From understanding campus culture to conference realignment to what it takes to win, Diana is a skilled and experienced professional, and I feel very lucky that we have been able to recruit her,” Cantwell said. “I know that all Aggies are deeply passionate about our athletic programs, as am I. Many fans have been looking forward to an announcement, and I am so proud that who we are and what we represent has attracted someone like Diana. Throughout our recruitment process, we have run a search dedicated to professionalism, fairness and thoughtfulness. We very carefully considered each candidate’s leadership abilities, experience, proven track record, appreciation for who we are at USU and ability to lead us into a future that all Aggies will be proud of. Diana clearly exemplifies these qualities.”
The director of athletics reports to the president and is a member of the president’s senior leadership team. This person oversees all aspects of USU’s athletic department.
Sabau will make decisions regarding personnel, academic and athletic success, budgets, facilities, operations, fundraising, compliance and student-athlete welfare. She will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulations governing USU and its employees, as well as those of the NCAA and Mountain West Conference.
Sabau has a master’s in sports administration from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. Sabau and her husband, Jamie, have two children.
After nearly nine months since Hartwell’s resignation, the announcement came with much anticipation.
“There was enormous interest in this position, and we were all very impressed by the depth of the candidate pool,” said Brian Steed, a member of the president’s executive team who chaired the search committee. “That really speaks volumes about the strength of USU Athletics.”
The search committee also included Jacey Skinner, chair of the USU Board of Trustees; Steve Palmer, former USU Alumni Board chair and member of the USU Board of Trustees; Stan Albrecht, former USU president and previous member of the Utah Board of Higher Education; Jim Laub, member of the community and Aggie Athletics supporter; Jontrell Rocquemore, former student-athlete and wellness professional; and Devin Wiser, vice president of government and community relations. Additionally, Matt White, vice president for USU Advancement, and James Morton, representing the USU faculty, served as advisory members.
Although many spectators assumed interim athletics director Jerry Bovee would continue in the position, Sabau has now received congratulations from all over the nation.
“It’s a great day to be an Aggie!” wrote Bovee via X. “I’m thrilled to work with our amazing new leaders to Utah State in President Cantwell and @DianaSabau. They bring a wealth of experience and passion to the job and I am excited to continue to do all I can to support them and Utah State! Go Aggies!”
Tony Petitti, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, congratulated Utah State on hiring Sabau, along with many others.
“On behalf of the entire Big Ten Conference, I want to congratulate Diana on her new role at Utah State University,” Petitti said. “Diana is a team player who has built strong relationships both internally and externally throughout her career. She places the student-athlete experience at the center of everything she does, which is one of many reasons she was able to immediately impact the success of multiple Big Ten championships and events. Although we will miss her at the Big Ten, we wish her every continued success in her new role.”
“Congratulations to President Cantwell and Utah State on recruiting Diana Sabau as their vice president and director of athletics,” said Gloria Navarez, commissioner of the Mountain West Conference. “She is an outstanding communicator, innovator, team player and above all else the consummate servant leader. A terrific hire for USU and the Mountain West.”
The university said Sabau will be officially introduced at a news conference later this week and will announce details soon.