Overview
Kevin Saal was named Director of Athletics at Wichita State University on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 and will begin his duties in mid-July 2022.
Saal had been athletic director at Murray State University since March 2019.
In his role as Director of Athletics, Saal will 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.
Saal, 44, is from Kansas. He worked at Kansas State University from 2000-05, where
he was event coordinator and had administrative responsibilities supporting men's
and women's golf and rowing. From 2005-07, Saal was director of operations at the
University of Missouri-Kansas City.
In 2000, Saal received his master's degree in athletics administration from the University
of Kansas, after spending time at the University of Arkansas — where he was a swimming
and diving student-athlete — and Texas Christian University, where he earned his bachelor's
in psychology. Saal is also nearing completion of his Doctorate in Education with
a focus on P-20 and Community Leadership.
Saal and his wife Jennifer — also a native of Kansas— have two college-age sons: Jacob
and Alex. Kevin and Jennifer are looking forward to their return to Kansas.