A Letter from Pat Kraft: Looking Back at 2025-26

Nittany Nation,

As we turn the page to a new year, and a new era for Penn State Athletics, I want to begin with two simple words: Thank You.

Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for showing up. Whether you packed Beaver Stadium, filled Rec Hall, the Bryce Jordan Center or Pegula Ice Arena, or proudly represented Penn State from across the country, your passion continues to make this one of the most special places in all of college athletics.

This past year gave us moments we’ll never forget. Championships were won. Records were broken. History was made. But what stands out most to me isn’t just what our student-athletes accomplished, it’s the way Nittany Nation stood behind them every step of the way.

None of what we celebrate today happens without you.

As proud as I am of everything we’ve accomplished, I’m even more excited about where we’re headed.

College athletics is experiencing the most significant transformation in its history. The way programs are built, student-athletes are supported and championships are pursued is changing rapidly. In moments like these, institutions have two choices: they can wait to see where the landscape goes, or they can help shape it.

At Penn State, we’ve made our choice.

We are investing in our student-athletes, our coaches, our facilities and our future at an unprecedented level because we believe Penn State should never chase excellence, we should define it.

Every decision we make is rooted in a simple purpose: providing our student-athletes with every opportunity to succeed while positioning Penn State Athletics to pursue championships across all 31 sports for generations to come.

That vision is transforming our department.

Every day, the future of West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium becomes more visible. After more than 750,000 labor hours, thousands of tons of steel and the topping out of the final beam this June, we’re creating a game day experience worthy of the greatest fans in college sports. Expanded concourses, modern amenities, upgraded premium spaces, enhanced technology and improved accessibility will ensure Beaver Stadium remains one of the most iconic and intimidating venues in America for decades to come.

Our investment extends well beyond football.

This year, we celebrated the opening of the new Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex, providing our men’s and women’s soccer programs with one of the premier facilities in the country. The Greenberg Training Table completed its first full year of serving more than 800 student-athletes across all 31 sports, giving every athlete access to first-class nutrition designed specifically to maximize performance, recovery and overall well-being.

Our bubble practice facility has transformed winter training opportunities for our Olympic sports, while renovations to the East Area Locker Room continue to provide enhanced sports performance, athletic training and fueling spaces for 16 of our programs.

These investments aren’t simply about buildings.

They’re about creating an environment where the best coaches want to coach, the best student-athletes want to compete and where every member of our department has the resources to pursue excellence. They reflect our belief that when you invest in people, extraordinary things happen.

That belief was on full display throughout this past year.

The investments we’re making are producing results across every corner of Penn State Athletics.

This year, our student-athletes, coaches and staff reminded the country what it means to be Penn State.

Our commitment has always been about more than winning championships. It’s about developing leaders, graduates and extraordinary young people.

That commitment was reflected in a record-tying 93 percent Graduation Success Rate, outstanding team GPAs across our department and hundreds of Dean’s List honorees. Beyond the classroom, our student-athletes gave back through more than 10,000 hours of community service, making a meaningful impact across Pennsylvania and beyond. They continue to represent Penn State with character, humility and pride.

That same commitment to excellence was on full display in competition.

Our wrestling program continued one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports, capturing its fifth consecutive NCAA Championship and 13th national title in the last 15 contested seasons. Records fell once again as Cael Sanderson’s team delivered one of the most dominant performances in NCAA history, while Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, Josh Barr and Luke Lilledahl each claimed individual national championships.

Women’s hockey reached new heights with a program-record 33 victories, a fourth consecutive conference championship and the program’s first Frozen Four appearance, while seven Nittany Lions were selected in the PWHL Draft and three represented their countries at the Winter Olympics, including gold medalist Tessa Janecke.

Men’s lacrosse delivered one of the most exciting seasons in program history, winning the Big Ten Tournament after sharing the regular-season title and advancing deep into postseason play behind elite talent, dynamic offense and one of the most passionate fan bases in the sport.

Women’s volleyball continued to set the national standard, earning its 45th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance while Kennedy Martin delivered one of the most dominant individual seasons in program history, rewriting the Penn State record book and earning first-team All-America honors.

Women’s lacrosse continued its rise on the national stage, returning to the NCAA Tournament while becoming just the third program in NCAA history to reach 600 victories. The Nittany Lions also celebrated consensus All-American Delaney Radin and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Rocquette Allen, signaling an incredibly bright future for the program.

Our football program welcomed Matt Campbell as head coach while continuing its tradition of developing elite talent, placing eight student-athletes in the NFL Draft as Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton rewrote the Penn State record books.

Across every season, Penn State continued to compete at the highest level. Men’s volleyball captured another conference championship. Women’s soccer extended its remarkable streak to 31 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, while men’s hockey returned to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. From track & field and cross country to softball, baseball, gymnastics, golf, swimming & diving, fencing and every one of our 31 programs, Nittany Lions continued to earn championships, All-America honors, school records and unforgettable moments.

Success at Penn State isn’t defined by one team or one season. It’s built every day by hundreds of student-athletes who choose to pursue excellence in competition, in the classroom and in their communities.

Just as inspiring has been the incredible support from Nittany Nation.

Your passion fueled record attendance, record fundraising, record ticket sales and unprecedented engagement across our digital platforms. Together, we’ve built one of the strongest financial foundations in college athletics, securing more than $1 billion in guaranteed future revenue while dramatically increasing philanthropic support for our student-athletes and programs.

Those aren’t simply milestones. They’re investments in championships. They’re investments in people. And they’re investments in the future of Penn State Athletics.

As proud as we are of what we’ve accomplished together, we’re even more excited about what’s ahead.

The future of college athletics is being written today, and Penn State intends to help write it.

We have extraordinary student-athletes. Outstanding coaches. Incredible staff. Unmatched facilities. And the greatest fans in college athletics.

Most importantly, we have a community that believes in something bigger than itself.

Thank you for believing in our vision. Thank you for believing in our student-athletes. And thank you for believing in Penn State.

The momentum is real. The future is bright. And we’re just getting started.

Enjoy your summer. I can’t wait to see you back in Happy Valley this Fall.

We Are!