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LOGAN — Utah State University welcomed newly sworn in president Betsy Cantwell and the newest addition to Aggies athletics, Diana Sabou, as the new athletic director Thursday.
"She is the leader for this moment. There are many challenges that await her and that await us all," Cantwell said Thursday.
The western New York native joins the Aggies at an interesting time when the Mountain West Conference has been linked to potential expansion or realignment. Since the fast-paced change of the Pac-12, the Mountain West remains involved in conversation with the Power Five conference.
With realignment looming above everyone's heads, Sabou was asked her thoughts on where the conference stands.
"I have not yet received my crystal ball and I am still in transit, but I can assure you that commissioner (Gloria) Nevarez is well prepared," Sabou said about potential conference realignment.
Sabou has previously worked as the deputy commissioner and chief sports officer for the Big Ten, where she said she wasn't afraid of intense environments. At the Big Ten, Sabou was responsible for all 28 sponsored sports across the league and provided guidance to the basketball, football, hockey, and olympic sports administrations.
She is no stranger to adversity and looks to lead Aggies to new heights, she said.
"I will listen and I will make priorities based on our student-athletes and our coaching staffs throughout the athletics programs," Sabou said. To her, it's important to be a servant leader and put the needs of the department ahead of hers.
"Congratulations to president Cantwell and Utah State on recruiting Diana Sabou as their director of athletics," Nevarez said in a statement earlier this week. "She is an outstanding communicator, innovator, team player, and above all else the consummate servant leader. A terrific hire for USU and the mountain west."
The Aggies football team will kick off its season on the road against Iowa at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. MDT.
