Leadership roles have been shifted at Pittsburg State as of Jan. 30, with Jim Johnson being chosen for a new executive position and Anthony Crespino filling his shoes as he becomes Vice President of Pitt State Intercollegiate Athletics. Johnson will be stepping from long time athletic director to Executive Vice President for Engagement and Executive Affairs.
“Johnson will work on some things I really think we need to focus on as a university, that really do not belong in any given area or department,” President Thomas Newsom said. “And I don’t want to distract from our cabinet members in terms of giving them those initiatives because they are really more global rather than they are ties to one college or department. I guess the best way to oversimplify it is that I can’t be in every room, and there’s rooms I need to be in that I can’t be in because of logistics and other commitments as president. So, when I’m not in the room, Jim will be in the room, and he will be my eyes and ears in that room.”
Johnson’s career has shown him the importance of developing skills and relationships, which he states is part of his executive position.
“I think that is one thing I realized early on in this career,” Johnson said. “We get to play games and do all those fun things, but it is really developing skills and relationships. I think this is what we’ve agreed this position is all about. It’s us continuing to foster and grow our relationships with our stakeholders.”
Going from athletic director to this different position, Johnson finds them similar.
“I think it’s all about bringing groups together on whatever the project is, or the subject is, and building consensus and collaboration,” Johnson said. “And also engaging with our students, community and donors to make those things happen. We don’t need donors just to build things. We need donors and alumni to help us with a lot of things.”
This move is part of momentum, according to Newsom.
“We have some momentum that is unlike any other regional university, and so this move will help us capture that momentum and continue that momentum,” Newsom said.
As Crespino steps in, he has hopes to grow and build on what has been left to him.
“Jim has hired great coaches and those guys and women have produced,” Crespino said. “We really just need to continue on what he’s built. Like Dr. Newsom said, growing our strengths and finding efficiencies where we can. College athletics is in a unique place right now, but I think because of how we are built and some of the resources and financial support we have from our alumni donors, that we can take advantage of those things. We can continue to be competitive and grow the program.”
Newsom has trust in Crespino as he steps into the role, and sees Johnson taking his philosophy from athletics to the whole university
“I know Anthony is just going to keep feeding coal into the machine and keep that train running on time and on schedule,” Newsom said. “And the fact that they are both here to work together, they will continue that. Jim is going to take that philosophy and basically help me translate that across our university. It makes it a really exciting time. And when you as why now, why not? If we are going to do it, let’s do it.”