Flanders Out, Legacy in Higher Ed

Blake Flanders, Kansas’s longtime higher ed leader, is stepping down—but not before dropping a bombshell: college sports are drowning in cash, with skyrocketing salaries and stadium costs threatening athletic departments. He’s proposing bold fixes like state partnerships or venture capital, echoing a wild new frontier where schools like Utah are spinning off athletic biz for billions—and the Big 12’s eyeing a billion-dollar equity sale. But Flanders isn’t just warning—he’s celebrating: literacy gains, quadrupled financial aid, 9-point graduation jumps, 29% salary boosts, and universities fueling Kansas’s economy. He’s leaving after a decade of transformative work, calling it his honor, and praising the talent pipeline. John Yeary will step in as interim president while they search for his successor. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/eeebb91a7d404a85