Utah State University Appoints Sandy Barbour as Interim Athletic Director
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University has announced the appointment of Sandy Barbour, former Athletic Director at Penn State, as the interim Director of Athletics. The announcement was made on July 18, 2025, with Barbour set to officially assume her role on July 21, 2025.
"Barbour, alongside her team at Huron, brings a wealth of experience in championship-level Division I athletics, covering various essential areas such as NIL, operations, finance, recruiting, facilities management, and marketing," said USU Interim President Alan Smith. He emphasized the importance of her leadership in navigating the shifting landscape of college athletics, particularly as USU transitions into the Pac-12. This move seeks to maintain stability in the athletics department, especially following the departure of former Athletic Director Diana Sabau, who has taken a position in Maryland.
As part of this transition, an ad hoc advisory group of internal and external stakeholders has been formed to support the athletics program, with Barbour serving as co-chair alongside Aggie alum Doug Fiefia. "Maintaining momentum is critical at this juncture," Smith noted, stressing the need for a transformative leader to enhance operations and ensure a competitive future for USU Athletics.
Sandy Barbour has an impressive background, having served as the Director of Athletics for Penn State from 2014 to 2022, where she oversaw multiple national titles and significant facility upgrades. Named Athletic Director of the Year in 2022 by Sports Business Journal, she has more recently worked as a senior advisor in intercollegiate athletics at Huron.
Utah State is set to kick off the 2025 football season against UTEP on August 30, marking an important chapter in the university’s athletics.
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