Keli Zinn is leaving LSU to become the new athletics director at Rutgers, according to multiple reports. Brian Fonseca and Steve Politi at NJ.com were the first to report the news.
BREAKING — Rutgers is targeting LSU deputy AD/COO Keli Zinn as its next athletic director, multiple people tell me and @StevePoliti: https://t.co/iIDaShkIAj
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) July 27, 2025
I’ll have a column on this in the morning, but a long, messy search ends with the highly regarded Keli Zinn taking the reins as new Rutgers athletic director. She has much, much work to do. https://t.co/MUgqaI2osE
— Steve Politi (@StevePoliti) July 27, 2025
The job would reunite Zinn with former LSU President William Tate, who left LSU in May to accept the same position at Rutgers.
Zinn joined LSU as the Executive Deputy Director of Athletics and Chief Operating Officer in July 2022. Prior to her time at LSU, she served in various roles at West Virginia and Maryland.
According to her bio:
At LSU, Zinn oversees all external and internal affairs of the athletics department, working closely with University leadership, senior athletics administration, and campus and community partners to support and advance the Tigers’ growth and success. Her work includes supervision of all 21 varsity programs with direct oversight of football and gymnastics, revenue generation, capital projects, strategic initiatives, and more.
Zinn was reportedly a candidate for the recently vacant AD position at Georgia Tech, but the school hired Ryan Alpert from Tennessee.
A request for comment from LSU was not initially returned.
This story will be updated
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