Aiming HighKevin Griffin outlines his ambitions for Oregon State.

Kevin Griffin didn’t waste any time setting high standards. A few days into his new job as Oregon State’s vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, he told media, “[Oregon State’s] rightful place is atop the Pac-12 mountain. Let me repeat that: Our rightful place is atop the Pac-12 mountain, and our teams are going to compete for conference and national championships.”

Photo courtesy of OSU Athletics

Griffin comes from Ohio State, where he was associate vice president of brand engagement, services and partnerships. The nephew of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, he also has marketing experience with several professional sports franchises, including the Major League Soccer team D.C. United. (See details about his background.)

In May, Silver Waves Media named him one of its Top 100 Rising Athletics Directors, billed as a list of emerging talent poised to lead top-tier collegiate and professional programs.