March 28, 2024

Kansas State hires Iowa’s Gene Taylor as athletic director

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State hired Iowa deputy athletic director Gene Taylor as its new athletic director on Friday, filling an opening left after John Currie left for Tennessee in February.

Taylor, 58, was hired at Iowa in 2014 following a 13-year stint as the athletic director at North Dakota State.

He will formally be introduced at Kansas State on Monday.

“My family and I are truly honored and thrilled to join the K-State family,” Taylor said.

“We are excited to get to Manhattan, and I look forward to meeting our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters and helping them build upon the success K-State has attained.”

While with the Bison, Taylor led the school through the move from Division II to Division I, also aiding in the formation of the Great West Football Conference — giving North Dakota State a home in Division I.

The Bison won five straight FCS football national championships beginning in 2011 and the school’s athletic department budget tripled from $5 million in his first year to $15 million under his watch.

After leaving North Dakota State for Iowa three years ago, Taylor was responsible for the athletic department’s day-to-day operations and was the primary decision maker in the absence of athletic director Gary Barta.