Kevin Griffin is headed from one OSU to another.
The Ohio State athletics administrator was named Thursday as Oregon State's next athletic director. Griffin, who has been with the Buckeyes since 2022, will begin his tenure with the Beavers on Saturday. He replaces Scott Barnes in the role, who announced his retirement in March.
Equipped to chart a bold path forward.
— The Beavs (@BeaverAthletics) June 4, 2026
Welcome our new Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Griffin! #GoBeavs
https://t.co/dopJebFswR pic.twitter.com/J1Ffwid14t
In a statement announcing his hire on Thursday, Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy praised Griffin for his track record in business strategy and revenue generation.
“A changemaker with a clear vision for OSU’s athletics programs, Kevin is a former student-athlete who is passionate about ensuring that today’s student-athletes not only have the resources and support to win at the highest levels of competition but also to develop academically and succeed long after their careers,” Murthy wrote. “Kevin is a proven leader and brand builder with a strong record of revenue generation. … Kevin’s expertise in business strategy, revenue generation and marketing positions Oregon State Athletics as an innovative, national leader, aggressively and proactively adapting to the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.”
An Ohio State wide receiver from 1995-98, Griffin is the nephew of Buckeye legend Archie Griffin, college football’s only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Before he returned to Ohio State in 2022, Griffin was the senior vice president for marketing and brand strategy for the MLS’ D.C. United and worked in managerial roles for the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks.
For the past four years, Griffin has served as Ohio State's associate vice president for brand engagement, services and partnerships and associate director of athletics business strategy. Most recently, he led a department committee exploring potential renovations to Ohio Stadium, a process that included a fan survey released in April.
