Former Nike CEO John Donahoe will take over as the athletic director at Stanford, where he earned his graduate degree.

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.

STANFORD, Calif. — Former Nike CEO John Donahoe has been hired as athletic director at Stanford. A person familiar with the decision said Donahoe will become the school's eighth athletic director and replace Bernard Muir, who stepped down this year. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the hiring hadn’t been announced.