Penn State Scandal: David Joyner Takes on Unenviable AD Job

As new Penn State athletic director, David Joyner just took on the overwhelming task of restoring integrity and credibility to an institution shrouded in controversy.

And that controversy is not going away anytime soon.   

Joyner will be replacing Mark Sherburne, who had been serving as interim athletic director since Tim Curley stepped down in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Resume

Joyner appears immensely qualified for this job.

He is a Penn State Distinguished Alumnus and had been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2000. His will suspend his spot on the board during his tenure as AD.

Penn State President Rodney Erickson had this to say on the hiring and was quoted on Penn State Live:

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"Dave Joyner has served the board with integrity, and he is internationally known for his work with the U.S. Olympic Committee. I am confident that he will bring that same integrity to his new role."

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His Olympic resume includes service as head physician to the United States teams at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games, the 1991 World University Games and the 1989 United States Olympic Festival.

Joyner was a student athlete at Penn State. He received his bachelor's degree there in 1972 and his M.D. 1976.

Joyner wrestled and played football while attending Penn State.

Unenviable Task

As qualified as Joyner is, it is hard to see him finding success. Penn State is going to be wading through this scandal for years. It will weigh this school down, tie it up and loom over everything that happens there.

With each passing day, the mess from the troubling Sandusky case gets messier. New allegations come forward that entangle new parts of the university.

There is going to be scrutiny, backlash and lawsuits like no university has ever seen.

Prized athletes will be reluctant to go to Penn State. Also, Joyner is going to find it next to impossible to hire a qualified football coach.

And without the success of the football program and the money it generates, it will cripple the athletic department.

Good luck, Dr. Joyner—you're going to need it.