Ken Halpin

Purdue deputy athletics director and chief operating officer, Dr. Ken Halpin, joined the department in August 2021. Selected for the role by vice president and athletics director Mike Bobinski, Halpin serves as strategist and advisor for the department as part of his key leadership functions. 
 
Halpin’s role as chief operating officer calls on him to provide direction and oversight for revenue generation activities, strategic communications, brand enhancement, marketing and fan experience, events, facilities and capital projects. He also serves as the sport administrator for Purdue Men's Basketball.
 
During his time serving the Boilermakers, Halpin has worked to build and implement a strategic vision for the future of Purdue Athletics. Part of this crucial role is developing and overseeing the creation of messaging that can be circulated to key stakeholder groups that best serves the interests of the athletics department and Purdue University.

Halpin served as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics for Winthrop University from May 2016 to July 2021, with the final four years showcasing the Eagles' outstanding work in the classroom and in competition. Winthrop set new records for departmental cumulative grade point average (GPA) each year since 2016-17, including a record-high 3.35 mark by the student-athlete population for the 2020-21 academic year.

Winthrop's tradition-rich men's basketball program claimed six championships during Halpin's tenure in Rock Hill, South Carolina, winning the Big South Conference's regular season and tournament championships in 2017, 2020 and 2021. 
 
Competitive success swept across Winthrop Athletics during the 2019-20, with volleyball adding a Big South championship to the trophy case, and the Eagles' baseball, softball and lacrosse programs vying for titles prior to season cancellations due to the pandemic. Eagle Volleyball's impressive run in 2019 included a pristine 14-0 conference record.
 
Halpin and his team guided the Eagles to an exceptional 214-percent increase in total athletics fundraising dollars upon his arrival. Additionally, Winthrop Eagle Club memberships more than doubled, corporate sponsorships increased by 190 percent and ticket sales increased 48 percent.
 
Prior to his arrival at Winthrop, Halpin served as deputy athletic director for Eastern Washington. During his time at EWU, Halpin oversaw all external operations, which included such notable achievements as a 122-percent increase in external revenue and 60-percent increase in annual scholarship fund membership.
 
Halpin received a Ph.D. in education from Washington State University in 2015 and a Master's in sport administration from Gonzaga University in 2008, where he taught as an adjunct professor in the sport management program for seven years. He earned a Bachelor's degree from Willamette University in 2005, where he was an all-conference performer in both football and baseball.