SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For the first time in program history, Notre Dame Athletics will have a COO.

The university announced that former star quarterback and current football administrator Ron Powlus will take on the role. Officials say his current duties will remain the same, with the addition of sports performance, internal operations, and equipment and facilities management to his purview. In a statement, Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua said in part:

“Moving Ron (Powlus) into the COO role will bring the amazing leadership that he’s consistently exhibited with our football program to the entire athletic department. I couldn’t be more excited to see how Ron leads his new divisions and how our new executive leadership team coalesces and moves us into the future at full speed.”

On top of Powlus' promotion, Garrett Chapman was named a Deputy Athletics Director in charge of the department's financial division. The university says he will serve as the department's chief financial strategist, aiming to align fiscal planning in the evolving college athletics landscape.

Katie Capps has also been named a senior associate athletics director, as well as the senior woman administrator in waiting. She will formally take on the SWA role after the retirement of longtime Notre Dame leader Missy Conboy in June.