Purdue’s new athletic director, Tommy McClelland, didn’t waste much time making noise in West Lafayette. His introductory press conference produced the kind of line that spreads fast and lands even faster, thanks to the target he chose.
“Every recruit, every current student-athlete will hear this message repeatedly: We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana," McClelland said confidently. "Make no mistake, we are here to win Big Ten championships and national championships.”
That jab at Indiana drew the heat, and it’s the part of the day that’s already getting replayed and mocked. But the bigger story for Purdue is what came before and after it: a new athletic director who spoke for 40 minutes about building something stronger, smarter and more financially competitive in West Lafayette.
McClelland arrived with the kind of energy Purdue was looking for. He talked openly about the chance to elevate the department across the board and laid out a clear willingness to examine how things are being done now.
“I think one of the things I am going to do early on is evaluate how we're structured,” McClelland said. “How have we been operating, and what needs to change?
I would imagine there's a tremendous amount of things that are working well. I think there are some things we take a deep dive on, look at and tweak.
Then, there are some things we really need to think differently about.”
That mindset is a big reason Purdue brought him in. The school needed someone who could think creatively about revenue and help the department keep pace in a Big Ten environment where money matters as much as momentum. McClelland has already done that kind of work before, including time as deputy athletic director at Vanderbilt during a $300 million facilities overhaul and as athletic director at Rice, where he helped raise funds for a $120 million wholesale stadium renovation.
He said Purdue can be innovative without losing sight of what makes the school Purdue.
“We are not going to be stuck in a traditional way of thinking. This is a school known for innovation, and we're going to bring that mindset to our athletic department,” he said.
“We have to stay tethered to our values, but we will be relentless in our pursuit to make sure they have the necessary resources to compete. It's vital.
“We have to be creative. There's no bad idea; there's no rock that can't be overturned.
We have to be so relentlessly focused on how we're monetizing what we do. The venues that we have - we have athletic venues, but how can we monetize them outside of athletics?
Concerts, other events?”
That point matters because the athletic department’s biggest facilities spend long stretches sitting idle. Ross-Ade Stadium is empty for eight months of the year, and Mackey Arena is vacant for six. McClelland’s push is to look at those spaces differently and find ways to turn them into more than game-day buildings.
The money won’t pour in overnight, but that’s the kind of long-game thinking Purdue hired him for. The Boilermakers need more than speeches. They need revenue streams, structure and someone willing to challenge the old habits.
McClelland also made clear he understands where football fits in the larger picture. He played the sport at Northwestern State from 2000 through 2004, and he spoke plainly about how much it drives an athletic department’s health.
“Football is really important; all of our sports are important. Let me make that clear,” McClelland said.
“But in this industry that we're in, we have to understand the importance of football. We have to understand how that impacts us financially.
If we want to accomplish the things we want to on the tennis court, we have to have a healthy and robust football program.”
That lines up with the message Barry Odom has already been selling since being hired in December 2024. Purdue’s football program is trying to climb out of a deep hole in the Big Ten, and McClelland says he believes a winner can be built in West Lafayette.
He delivered that same message to Odom’s team during his first meeting with them this week.
“All I told them is simply this, 'I know what it's like to be in a locker room. I don't know what it's like to be in this locker room, but I've been in a football locker room. I know that brotherhood, and I know what it takes,'” McClelland said.
“I won a championship. It doesn't matter if you win a championship in the FCS or the Big Ten; you still have to do it the same way.”
Purdue hired him to bring confidence, ideas and money-making instincts. On day one, McClelland showed all three. The Indiana line may be the quote that travels, but the bigger takeaway is that Purdue thinks it found the right person to lead the department forward.
In Other News...
Purdue's New AD Just Handed Indiana Fans Fresh Rivalry Fuel
Tommy McClellands first public day as Purdues new athletic director came with the kind of line that can travel fast across a state line. Introduced at a press conference, McClelland offered a sharp shot in the direction of the rival Hoosiers, a comment that landed with a mixed reaction in the room, including a few audible giggles. It was the sort of moment that instantly reminds everyone just how central Indiana is to the Boilermakers identity, especially with football and basketball serving as the backbone of one of college sports most familiar in-state grudges.
Purdue and Indiana have long measured themselves against each other in more than just wins and losses, with championship standards and recent performance trends always part of the conversation. So when a new AD chooses his opening act by drawing a line in the rivalry sand, it does more than create a soundbite. It gives Indiana fans fresh material, gives Purdue fans a talking point, and adds another layer to a matchup that never really needs help staying heated. [Read more 🡒]
Barry Odom Opens Camp With Purdue Facing One Clear Challenge
Purdue opened fall camp with Barry Odom setting a tone that sounded more like a program restart than a simple preseason check-in. With preparations underway for the 2026 season, Odom focused on the basics that usually decide how quickly a team can turn the corner, stressing the need for plenty of quality reps and the kind of chemistry that only comes from repeated work together.
The early signs he pointed to were encouraging in a couple of key spots, especially along the offensive line and at defensive edge, but the bigger picture is still about where Purdue can make the most noticeable leap. Odom made it clear the Boilermakers want a better running game and more pressure on defense than they had last season, which leaves camp with a pretty obvious measuring stick even before the pads really start to tell the story. [Read more 🡒]