Ray Anderson (@SunDevilRay23) is Arizona State University’s Vice President for University Athletics and Athletics Director. His prior position (2006-2013) was Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the National Football League. He received both the 2015 Paul J. Tagliabue Award and the John Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award, two of the NFL’s most prestigious honors. His earlier career included practices in law and as a sports agent, capitalizing on his juris doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and his experience lettering in baseball and football at Stanford University, where he earned a political science degree.

In this video, Anderson emphasizes that his role as athletic director for 550 student-athletes first concerns their academic excellence. He also hopes to help them become their best as athletic competitors. Doing so requires top facilities and other elements of creating the right environment for success. Balancing those three is a big part of an athletic director's job.