Duke promotes Mike Cragg

One of Kevin White’s first moves as the Duke athletic director was to give a key employee room to grow.

White promoted Mike Cragg, the man behind the successful Duke Basketball Legacy Fund, to senior
associate athletic director on Wednesday.

"He is deserving and ready to take on additional responsibilities in facilities and special projects,” White said in a statement. “Mike will serve as the project lead on a master facilities plan for Duke Athletics, an undertaking that will have a major impact on the future of this department and the welfare of all Blue Devil student-athletes."

The promotion immediately puts Cragg in charge of overseeing the makeover of Wallace Wade Stadium and plans for an indoor football practice facility.

Cragg, the only internal candidate considered for White’s job, also will continue to guide daily operations and fundraising for the men’s basketball program through the Legacy Fund.

Chris Kennedy, Duke’s other senior associate AD, oversees academics and compliance.

The move acknowledged Cragg’s contributions to the department in the form of 21 years of service and $53 million in cash he has helped attract to Duke.

That money recently paid for the $15.2 million Michael W. Krzyzewski Center for Academic & Athletic Excellence, the academic part of which serves all Duke athletes.

Cragg, a Yakima, Wash., native, graduated from the University of Washington in 1986. He served his first 10 years at Duke as sports information director.