Brunswick Group guided communications for Colorado State University athletic director Jack Graham through his unexpected Aug. 8 ouster from the school.
Graham's firing came after three years atop the NCAA Division I program as university president Tony Frank cited "substantial differences in our views" in a press release deemed "the university's only comment on this personnel decision."
The move also comes as CSU is trying to raise $110M in a push for a new $220M campus football stadium. Graham said in an interview Aug. 12 that it was "all about the stadium," amid reports that the school is falling short of its financial goals.
Graham, a 1975 graduate of CSU and successful insurance industry exec, responded the same day via Brunswick, noting the decision was "surprising and disappointing," and laying out more than a dozen accomplishments during his tenure. "I sincerely hope that the university's decision today will not derail the significant strides and positive developments that have been made in CSU Athletics and our fundraising efforts for the new stadium," he said, thanking the community for its support.
The Coloradoan reported that a June performance review of Graham placed his overall score at 2.34 on a scale of 5.
Deputy AD John Morris has taken the reins on an interim basis as a national search is conducted. Frank said CSU exercised a termination for convenience clause in Graham’s contract. The school will pay his $260K/year salary through 2016, or a difference in salary if he finds another position.
Brunswick has not yet been reached about its representation of Graham.
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