Stanford late Thursday named former Nike CEO John Donahoe its next athletic director, a seemingly unlikely hire, but one the university said is a perfect fit given the ongoing turmoil in college sports. The move also further cements the university’s ties with Nike co-founder Phil Knight, a Stanford alumnus and a major donor.

Nearly a year after leaving the top job at Nike, former Swoosh chief executive officer John Donahoe has joined Stanford University as the next athletic director. He will begin at Stanford on Sept. 8. Jon Levin, president of Stanford University, said in a statement that the university needed a “distinctive leader” to fill this role.

Stanford tapped veteran executive John Donahoe, former Nike CEO and longtime supporter, to succeed Bernard Muir as athletic director.