Penn State football is undergoing a restructuring of its equipment department this offseason with the hiring of a Senior Director of Football Equipment. The role has not yet been filled publicly but a recent job posting on the university’s job website announced the eventual pending hire.
“The position will work in conjunction and report to the Assistant Athletic Director for Equipment Services to ensure the football equipment room and needs of the football team are met on a daily basis,” The listing states. “The Senior Director of Football Equipment will manage the various equipment needs of our football program in all aspects surrounding practice, travel, and game day.”
A Penn State spokesperson confirmed that the role is a new one within the football program and would be the second hire in the equipment department in 2022. Penn State hired Austin Cruz as its new Director of Football Equipment this spring, Cruz most recently was an equipment manager at Oregon and replaces Stewart Carter in that role. Carter is now the Director of Equipment Services for Virginia Tech Football alongside now head coach and former Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry.
Additional responsibilities include:
- Working closely with football coaches, student athletes, and staff, advising them with respect to purchase, issue, and return of all athletic equipment
- Working closely with football administration to ensure all areas of football operations are coordinated, including team travel, equipment transportation, fall camp schedules, and coordination of all aspects of equipment transportation for bowl games
- Hiring, supervising, and directing full time exempt staff
- Budgeting and purchasing football equipment in conjunction with the football Chief of Staff to ensure budget adherence
- Working with Penn State purchasing on RFP’s RFQ’s, Sole Source, and Purchase Orders for the purchase of football equipment
- Ordering other equipment and accessories for football along with tracking and receipt of orders
- Oversight of football inventory control systems and ensuring direct reports are following university policy regarding inventory control and management
- Ordering with our main apparel vendor, Nike, and utilizing their Gameday ordering system
- Oversee and manage the football equipment room and its policies relating to laundry operations, equipment issuance, equipment reconditioning
