John Donahoe's First Week on The Farm

It's only been a week. But even in that short amount of time, it's easy to see why John Donahoe is a great fit for The Farm.

Throughout a jam-packed first seven days that included daily interactions with student-athletes, coaches, staff and University personnel, Donahoe emphatically communicated his vision for the nation's most successful athletics department.

The concept of servant leadership has been a guiding principle throughout Donahoe's professional career. Expect it to continue at Stanford. With the student-athlete experience clearly entrenched as his highest priority, Donahoe has emphasized an unrelenting commitment to support coaches and empower staff.

As the nation's all-time leader in NCAA championships entering the fall riding a 49-year title streak, Stanford Athletics has long been synonymous with winning. Donahoe is focused on embracing the challenge of continuing that unprecedented success, fully realizing athletics are a distinct point of pride for the university.

It's a rapidly evolving collegiate landscape and Stanford is not immune to change. What elevates Stanford, is its ability to inspire people around the world to value the simultaneous pursuit of excellence in both academic and athletics. Donahoe's vision is for Stanford Athletics to embrace its reputation as a leader, developing student-athletes to be role models and ambassadors.