Kraft finds quick success as Temple's athletic director
Temple athletic director Patrick Kraft was a plugger as a football player, not a star by any means but never outworked. Fittingly, he played special teams at Indiana University, a selfless performer who would do anything to help his team win.
Temple athletic director Patrick Kraft was a plugger as a football player, not a star by any means but never outworked. Fittingly, he played special teams at Indiana University, a selfless performer who would do anything to help his team win.
"I was the Steve Tasker of my team," Kraft said during a recent interview in his office.
Then he quickly added, "Now don't compare me to Steve Tasker."
Tasker was one of the top special teams players in NFL history, mainly with the Buffalo Bills.
Kraft the executive, is similar but different from his football playing days. These days, he is more like the quarterback of the team, comfortable being out in front and leading.
In just three years, including his current job as athletic director since last May, this product of a tight-knit family from suburban Chicago has developed an affinity for Temple and the Philadelphia area.
Kraft is a shining star in the college world. The 38-year-old this year was named to the top Forty Under 40 lists for the Sports Business Journal and the Philadelphia Business Journal. He was the only intercollegiate athletic director on each list.
Kraft was honored along with the other 39 recipients during a ceremony in April in Los Angeles by the Sports Business Journal.
"It is the ultimate team award," Kraft said. "If you are not moving at such a good clip together, then it doesn't happen, and I am fully aware of that."
What humbled Kraft was the company he kept.
"I talked to some Temple people about it, and we were on the national stage with the NFL, the NBA, and to put us up there I am really proud of it, and it is really, really cool."
Among those also honored were Kevin Demoff, an executive with the Los Angeles Rams; David Weiss, a vice president and assistant general counsel for the NBA; and Jamie Horowitz, president of Fox Sports national networks.
While football and men's basketball drive the athletic train at Temple and many universities, Kraft said he is determined to build the entire 19-sport Temple athletic program.
One of his early triumphs as athletic director was reaching a 10-year contract extension in August with Under Armour. It provides uniforms, apparel and footwear for the university's varsity sports teams.
While neither Temple nor Under Armour released the details, two sources told the Inquirer the deal was for $30 million.
There is also the new athletic complex to be completed this fall that is to house men's and women's soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and track.
On the field, last season's football team had arguably its highest profile ever, starting out 7-0 and having ESPN GameDay broadcast from Philadelphia on the day the Owls hosted Notre Dame at sold-out Lincoln Financial Field.
Temple lost that game, 24-20, but battled the Fighting Irish to the end, and the school received positive exposure from the ESPN pregame and ABC network game telecasts.
Kraft has been integral in securing partnerships with Learfield Sports Properties, Learfield Licensing Partners and IMG/Learfield Ticket Solutions. Learfield is Temple's multi-media rights partner.
Temple is also considering an on-campus football stadium at an estimated cost of $126 million. Temple president Neil Theobald has been the point man in those discussions, but Kraft has been a resource in each step along the way.
In the classroom, Kraft is a stickler for athletes keeping up with academics. He has three degrees from Indiana: a bachelor's in sports marketing/management (2000), a master's degree in athletic administration (2005) and a doctorate in sports management (2008).
One of his best educational experiences, he said, was working early in his career with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He sold tickets, worked in corporate sales and helped out in the game-day presentation.
"I learned so much there," he said.
Kraft worked as executive senior associate athletic director at Loyola University in Chicago for two years. He then went to his alma mater as the senior assistant athletic director at Indiana.
When Theobald joined Temple, he hired Kevin Clark as the athletic director. Clark, who worked in the Indiana athletic department, brought Kraft to Temple as deputy director of athletics.
When Clark was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer at Temple in May 2015, Kraft succeeded him as AD.
"I knew walking into my role as AD I needed somebody with Pat's background, his work ethic," Clark said.
And when Clark was promoted, he saw Kraft as the most suitable replacement as athletic director.
"He is very intelligent, very detailed and understands the business really well," Clark said.
Kraft, with his wife Betsy and their two young children, reside in Cherry Hill. He has only one regret, that his father, Joe, is not here to share in his success. His father passed away in March 2014.
"He was my best friend. Even with all the good things happening, it is a little bittersweet," Kraft said.
His mother, Linda, lives in Florida but is a huge Temple fan, attending numerous sporting events. The rest of his family resides in the Chicago area.
Kraft is the middle child of five siblings. His older brother, Joe, graduated from Villanova so Kraft knew about the Philadelphia sports passion well before he went to Temple.
He has an older sister, Mary Therese Williams, a Notre Dame graduate. His younger brother, Daniel, graduated from DePaul, and his younger sister, Tracy, also is an Indiana grad.
When Temple played Notre Dame, Kraft and his sister, Mary Therese, had a friendly rivalry. As much as she loves her brother, she is a diehard Fighting Irish fan.
Three years older than her brother, Mary Therese worked in several sports-related jobs, including as women's marketing manager at Nike before devoting her time to her five children.
Pat Kraft said his sister is one of his mentors, and he often bounces ideas off her.
"I have stepped out of the industry, having five children, and I kind of live through him, and his accomplishments make me so proud of him," Mary Therese said in a phone interview.
One of Kraft's closest friends at Temple is football coach Matt Rhule.
"Pat is always talking about what is right for the student-athlete," Rhule said. "He was a student-athlete and can see it from that perspective first.
"He sees beyond the mention of today. He has a vision for tomorrow," Rhule said.
Will that tomorrow involve Temple?
Kraft says he has not been wooed by any other schools.
"I really love it here at Temple," he said.
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