Ray Anderson (athletic director)

Anderson attended Stanford University. He played for the Stanford football team as a wide receiver and was also on the baseball team.{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Peter |title=Stanford: Famous Football-Baseball Stars |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1199290-stanford-famous-football-baseball-stars |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} He earned his degree in political science in 1976. He then graduated from Harvard Law School in 1979.{{Cite web |title=Athletic Director |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Conferences-Events/2018/IAF/Speaker-Faculty/Ray-Anderson.aspx |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com}}

Before joining the Atlanta Falcons, Anderson was an agent for AR Sports. He was an agent to multiple NFL players alongside coaches. Some of the NFL head coaches he represented include Brian Billick, Tony Dungy, Dennis Green, and Herm Edwards.{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: NFL - Falcons turn to ex-agent Anderson |url=https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1397625.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=a.espncdn.com}} From 2002 to 2006, Anderson was the vice president of the Falcons. Anderson would leave to become the NFL’s senior director of football operations and was later promoted to executive vice president of football operations.{{Cite news |last=Journal-Constitution |first=The Atlanta |title=Ex-Falcons executive accused of ignoring harassment allegations |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/falcons-executive-accused-ignoring-harassment-allegations/e14c6ObJVw7NYGjFDjeVdM/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |issn=1539-7459}} Anderson announced that he would step down from vice president of football operations in 2013 to pursue new opportunities.{{Cite web |title=Ray Anderson to pursue new opportunity following 2013 season |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/ray-anderson-to-pursue-new-opportunity-following-2013-season-0ap2000000296724 |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}

On January 9, 2014, he was announced as the athletic director of the Arizona State Sun Devils.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-09 |title=NFL's Ray Anderson named ASU athletic director |url=https://news.asu.edu/content/nfls-ray-anderson-named-asu-athletic-director |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=ASU News |language=en}} During his time as athletic director, Anderson oversaw the $268 million renovation to Sun Devil Stadium and the construction of Mullett Arena.{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Jenna |title=Arizona State's new sports facility gets its name: Mullett Arena |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2022/08/23/asu-announces-new-sports-arena-named-mullett-arena/7848438001/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} He also negotiated an eight-year, $38 million apparel agreement with Adidas, and added four varsity sports: men’s hockey, women’s lacrosse, triathlon, and men’s tennis.{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Craig |date=2017-01-09 |title=Ray Anderson's 3-year ASU tenure marked by sweeping changes |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/987168/ray-andersons-3-year-asu-tenure-marked-sweeping-changes/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Arizona Sports |language=en}} In 2016, Forbes listed named Anderson as one of the influential minorities in sports.{{Cite web |last=Theodore |first=Shane |date=2016-02-25 |title=DDD: Carson to play in Turkey |url=https://www.houseofsparky.com/2016/2/25/11111820/daily-devil-dish-ray-anderson-named-in-forbes-list-jahii-carson-signs |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=House of Sparky |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Belzer |first=Jason |title=The Most Influential Minorities In Sports |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonbelzer/2016/02/24/the-most-influential-minorities-in-sports/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

In February 2021, Anderson received a five-year extension that runs until 2026.{{Cite web |last=Metcalfe |first=Jeff |title=Arizona State extending athletic director Ray Anderson through February 2026 |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2021/02/03/asu-extending-athletic-director-ray-anderson-through-february-2026/4371065001/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} That extension made Anderson the second-highest paying athletic director in the country just behind of Chris Del Conte, the athletic director of the Texas Longhorns.{{Cite web |last=Druin |first=Donnie |date=2021-09-15 |title=Report: Arizona State AD Earned Second-Highest Pay in Nation Last Year |url=https://www.si.com/college/arizonastate/football/report-arizona-state-ad-earned-second-highest-pay-last-year |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Arizona State Sun Devils on Sports Illustrated: News, Analysis, and More |language=en}} In 2023, Anderson was in charge when most of the Sun Devils Athletics programs transitioned conferences from the Pac-12 to the Big 12.{{Cite web |date= August 5, 2023|title=ASU President Michael Crow, AD Ray Anderson explain move from Pac-12 to Big 12 |url=https://www.12news.com/article/sports/local-sports/asu-president-michael-crow-ad-ray-anderson-explain-move-to-big-12/75-9c584fa8-c9f6-44fb-8850-82ce6ad73f1d |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=12news.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Arizona State A.D. Ray Anderson on Sun Devils moving to Big 12 |url=https://sports360az.com/2023/08/arizona-state-a-d-ray-anderson-on-sun-devils-moving-to-big-12/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923005503/https://sports360az.com/2023/08/arizona-state-a-d-ray-anderson-on-sun-devils-moving-to-big-12/ |archive-date=2023-09-23 |access-date= |website=sports360az.com}} On November 13, 2023, he stepped down as athletic director to become a Professor in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

Although he had some success as an athletic director, he has been heavily criticized by Arizona State fanbase for underperforming in major collegiate sports such as football and baseball.{{Cite news |last=Haller |first=Doug |title=Five takeaways from Kenny Dillingham's ASU introduction |url=https://theathletic.com/3941928/2022/11/27/arizona-state-kenny-dillingham-ray-anderson/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} He has been criticized for keeping his former client and close friend, Herm Edwards, as head coach of the football team, despite being in the middle of an NCAA investigation due to recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period.{{Cite web |last=Gardner |first=Michelle |title=Herm Edwards out as ASU football coach; Shaun Aguano named interim HC |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2022/09/18/herm-edwards-out-arizona-state-sun-devils-football-coach/10420580002/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-19 |title=Arizona State football fans call for Ray Anderson to be fired after Herm Edwards firing |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/arizona-state-football-fans-call-222856114.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}

In 2020, Anderson was accused of ignoring sexual harassment allegations regarding an ASU booster. Former ASU employee, David Cohen filed a $1.5 million lawsuit after he said that Anderson fired him after he repeatedly ignored claims that Bart Wear, a prominent basketball booster, sexually harassed his wife and two other women.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Anne Ryman and Craig |title=Ex-ASU employee says he was fired after reporting athletic booster's sexual harassment |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2020/02/20/asu-associate-athletic-director-david-cohen-says-he-was-fired-after-reporting-sexual-harassment/4820263002/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} It was revealed that one of the two other women was the wife of ASU basketball head coach Bobby Hurley.{{Cite web |last=Ryman |first=Craig Harris and Anne |title=Emails show rift between ASU men's basketball coach Hurley, AD Anderson over sex harassment claims |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-education/2020/05/27/emails-show-rift-between-asu-mens-basketball-coach-bobby-hurley-ad-anderson-over-sex-harassment-clai/5266937002/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} On June 21, 2021 Cohen announced a federal lawsuit against the school.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-12 |title=Civil lawsuit claims Arizona State retaliated against ex-official for insisting sexual harassment allegations be investigated |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/civil-lawsuit-claims-arizona-state-retaliated-against-ex-official-for-insisting-sexual-harassment-claims-be-investigated-184436618.html |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} Despite Bobby Hurley being at odds with Anderson, on March 23, 2023 Hurley received a two-year extension as head coach.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-22 |title=Arizona State gives coach Hurley 2-year extension |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35914278/arizona-state-gives-coach-bobby-hurley-2-year-extension |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Anderson has also been criticized for not retaining ASU softball head coach, Trisha Ford, who was a 2-time Pac-12 Softball Coach of the Year. She would leave and become the head coach of the Texas A&M softball program.{{Cite web |last=Cluff |first=Jeremy |title=Arizona State softball fans sound off on Ray Anderson after Trisha Ford Texas A&M hire |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2022/06/07/asu-softball-fans-slam-ray-anderson-trisha-ford-texas-am/10000824002/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Jenna |title=Texas A&M to hire ASU softball coach Trisha Ford |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2022/06/06/reports-texas-a-m-hire-asu-softball-coach-trisha-ford/7541597001/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}} Despite criticism and speculation, ASU president Michael Crow stated in an ESPN article on October 25, 2022, that Anderson will remain as Athletic Director.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=ASU committed to AD Anderson, president says |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/34878686/asu-president-backs-ad-ray-anderson-says-moving-things-forward |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Days after Arizona State joined the Big 12, Anderson received backlash from the West Virginia fanbase and the media for a statement he made at a press conference. He quotes "I promise I'm not going to Morgantown... I'm going to sign that to Jean Boyd. He can go to Morgantown. But send me to Texas and the rivalry with Arizona and starting a new one with BYU and Utah and Colorado."{{Cite web |last=Callihan |first=Schuyler |date=2023-08-05 |title=Arizona State AD: 'I Promise I'm Not Going to Morgantown' |url=https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/big-12/arizona-state-ad-i-promise-im-not-going-to-morgantown |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Sports Illustrated West Virginia Mountaineers News, Analysis and More |language=en}} Anderson later apologized to West Virginia athletic director, Wren Baker for making the comment.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-08-09 |title=ASU's Ray Anderson apologizes to WVU for Morgantown joke |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3530765/asus-ray-anderson-apologizes-wvu-morgantown-joke/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Arizona Sports |language=en}} In 2023, Anderson received backlash from the Sun Devil fanbase, boosters, and the media for announcing a self-imposed bowl ban for the football program just days before the season opener.{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Jesse |date=2023-08-29 |title=Kenny Dillingham moving forward following Arizona State bowl ban |url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3532635/arizona-state-head-coach-kenny-dillingham-backs-ray-anderson-ready-to-move-on-from-postseason-ban/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Arizona Sports |language=en}}

He later stepped down in November 2023, after of barrage of controversies involving him. He stated "It has been a privilege to serve as ASU's athletic director for nearly a decade."{{Cite web |last=Backus |first=Will |date=2023-11-23 |title=Arizona State AD Ray Anderson steps down after nearly 10-year run marred by controversies|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/arizona-state-ad-ray-anderson-steps-down-after-nearly-10-year-run-marred-by-controversies/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=cbssports |language=en}}

Anderson and his wife, Buffie, have a son and a daughter.

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

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Category:Living people

Category:African-American college athletic directors in the United States

Category:Arizona State Sun Devils athletic directors

Category:Stanford Cardinal baseball players

Category:Stanford Cardinal football players

Category:Harvard Law School alumni

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Arizona State University faculty