Emotional introduction for new Fresno State athletic director

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A new era launched Friday for Fresno State athletics. The university officially announced Jim Bartko is the new athletic director -- the first change at that position in nine years.

Bartko's introduction was short on specifics, but the new AD was very clear about a couple things: He will not accept the status quo or an average outlook, and he'll take a hard look at whether this stadium and other facilities need to be improved.

Normally, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you'd call it a duck. But this duck is flying south this winter and Fresno State's president couldn't be happier about his migration.

"The beginning of a new, and exciting and bolder chapter in Fresno State athletics," said university president Joseph Castro.

Jim Bartko has been an Oregon Duck for most of the last 25 years, helping to build a program and a brand alongside Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who called this a great hire for the Bulldogs.

At Oregon, he recently raised $375 million for athletic improvements, including at the Hatfield Dowlin complex. His early plans for Fresno State are similar.

"Let's dominate this conference," said Bartko. "Let's elevate this community academically. We need to raise more money. We need to get the facilities involved."

In his introduction, Bartko talked about having roots in the Valley -- from Ripon to Modesto -- and the value he puts on that "V" on the football helmets. Homegrown talent will be a big focus, and his own home was a big part of the reason he made the move.

"I want to thank my family over here," he said as he choked up giving his wife credit for making it easy to accept a job he always wanted. And his 12-year-old daughter eased his concerns about making her leave her friends behind.

"I dropped her off at school and she kind of said 'Daddy, if you get the job are you going to take it?'" Bartko told Action News. "And I go 'What do you think?' and she said 'Take the job, Daddy. You deserve it.' and I left the car, got a little teary-eyed because here's my little 12-year-old getting ready to go to school saying 'Get the job. Take it.'"

Obviously, he took her advice. He's planning to start full-time on Jan. 1, but he'll also visit the school, the coaches and president Castro over the next few weeks as they streamline a vision for the athletic program.