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.

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 the school's new athletic director, the university announced Thursday.