New director of athletics, Garrett Klassy, was welcomed by the playing of the Fight Song performed by the Bulldog marching band at his introductory press conference. 

On Friday, June 28 media, faculty members and family filled up the seats inside the Josephine Auditorium in the Duncan Athletics Building.

“This is honestly the greatest day of my professional career,” Klassy said. 

He was accompanied alongside President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval who saw potential in the hiring of Klassy. 

“I saw the passion for the Valley,” Jiménez-Sandoval said. “To me that is fundamental that someone has a commitment to come to the region.” 

During Klassy’s press conference, he highlighted some of the visions he sees for the future of Fresno State Athletics.

He wants Fresno State athletes to be valued and know how to be marketed through Name, Image and Likeness (NIL). 

“Whether it’s for advertising brands, whether that’s through community service and you know sponsoring companies,” Klassy said. “And I think that is going to be an important piece of it.”

During his time at the University of Nebraska, he created the #NILbraska which was implemented to educate student-athletes on NIL. He said he plans to do the same for Fresno State. 

“To be able to teach them how to do that, those are resources they can use for the rest of their lives. Whether they get a penny from NIL or they get a million dollars from NIL,” Klassy said. 

Lastly, Klassy highlighted how he will bring in more revenue to Fresno State. 

“It takes being in the community, building relationships, it’s articulating the vision and then making the donors make sure you’re storing them the right way to make sure they feel like their gift is making an impact.”

Klassy will begin his role as director of athletics on July 23. 

“We are going to think differently with a business mindset, and we are going to make difficult decisions, bold strategic decisions that ensure the success and the growth of Fresno State Athletics,” Klassy said.