Staff urge new Purdue AD Tommy McClelland to prioritize fundraising

In a recent staff roundtable, Purdue athletics personnel outlined the most urgent task for incoming AD Tommy McClelland. The prevailing view was that aggressive fundraising must top the agenda, as the department trails other Big Ten programs financially. Contributors highlighted that the current facilities are adequate, thanks to prior work by Burke and Bobinski, but without additional checks the school cannot compete.

Several staff members called for stronger integration with university administration, specifically urging McClelland to work with Mitch Daniels to secure institutional backing. One participant warned against meddling in basketball operations, focusing instead on delivering the needed capital. The discussion concluded that securing large donors and reallocating university support are critical steps toward closing the financial gap with conference rivals.