Stanford late Thursday named former Nike CEO John Donahoe its next athletic director, a seemingly unlikely hire, but one the university said is a perfect fit given the ongoing turmoil in college sports. The move also further cements the university’s ties with Nike co-founder Phil Knight, a Stanford alumnus and a major donor.

Stanford has hired former Nike CEO John Donahoe as its new athletic director, marking a shift from a more traditional hire to one with extensive business experience rather than just a typical sports administration background.

Former Nike CEO John Donahoe has been hired as athletic director at Stanford. Donahoe will become the school's eighth athletic director and replace Bernard Muir, who stepped down this year. “Stanford occupies a unique place in the national athletics landscape,