Ray Anderson (athletic director) facts for kids
Anderson in 2017
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Stanford University Harvard University |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1973–1975 | Stanford |
| Position(s) | Wide Receiver |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2014–2023 | Arizona State |
Ray Anderson is a former athletic director and is now a professor of law at Arizona State University. He studied at Stanford University, where he played both football and baseball. He also earned a law degree from Harvard Law School.
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Ray Anderson's Education
Ray Anderson went to Stanford University for his college studies. While there, he was a wide receiver for the Stanford football team. He also played on the baseball team. In 1976, he earned his degree in political science. Later, in 1979, he graduated from Harvard Law School.
Career in Sports Management
Working with the NFL
Before joining the Atlanta Falcons, Ray Anderson worked as an agent for AR Sports. He helped many NFL players and coaches manage their careers. Some of the coaches he represented included Brian Billick, Tony Dungy, Dennis Green, and Herm Edwards.
From 2002 to 2006, Anderson was a vice president for the Atlanta Falcons. After that, he moved to the NFL's main office. He became the senior director of football operations and was later promoted to executive vice president of football operations. In 2013, Anderson decided to leave this role to explore new opportunities.
Leading Arizona State Athletics
On January 9, 2014, Ray Anderson became the athletic director for the Arizona State Sun Devils. As athletic director, he was in charge of many big projects. He oversaw a large renovation of Sun Devil Stadium, which cost $268 million. He also managed the building of Mullett Arena.
Anderson also made a big deal with Adidas for sports apparel, worth $38 million over eight years. During his time, four new varsity sports were added at Arizona State. These included men’s hockey, women’s lacrosse, triathlon, and men’s tennis. In 2016, the magazine Forbes recognized Anderson as one of the most influential people in sports.
In February 2021, Anderson's contract was extended for five more years, until 2026. This made him one of the highest-paid athletic directors in the country. In 2023, Anderson helped guide most of the Sun Devils' sports programs. They moved from the Pac-12 conference to the Big 12. On November 13, 2023, he stepped down as athletic director. He then became a professor at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.
Challenges and Criticisms
Even with his successes, Ray Anderson faced some criticism from Arizona State fans. Some fans felt that major sports like football and baseball were not performing well enough. He was also criticized for keeping his friend, Herm Edwards, as the head coach of the football team. This happened even when the team was being investigated for issues related to recruiting.
Anderson also faced criticism regarding the departure of ASU softball head coach, Trisha Ford. She was a two-time Pac-12 Softball Coach of the Year. She later left to coach at Texas A&M. Despite these concerns, ASU president Michael Crow stated in an ESPN article in October 2022 that Anderson would remain as Athletic Director.
After Arizona State joined the Big 12, Anderson made a comment that caused some backlash. He later apologized to the athletic director of West Virginia. In 2023, Anderson also received criticism for announcing a self-imposed bowl ban for the football team. This decision was made just days before the season started.
He officially stepped down in November 2023, after facing several controversies. He said, "It has been a privilege to serve as ASU's athletic director for nearly a decade."
Personal Life
Ray Anderson is married to his wife, Buffie. They have a son and a daughter together.
