Sayers to join KU athletics

Kansas supporters have already been willing to show their support of KU athletics monetarily over the past five years, helping to double the department's budget during athletic director Lew Perkins' tenure.

Now, just imagine how willing they'll be to donate with a KU legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer making the pitch?

KU announced the hiring of Gale Sayers as its director of fundraising for special projects on Monday afternoon. Sayers, a two-time All-America selection at KU in 1963-64 and an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 after a sterling career with the Bears, will start in October.

"I am thrilled and honored to welcome Gale back to the Kansas Athletics administration," Perkins said in a release. "There is no one better suited to take on this role."

Sayers said: "Lew and I started talking about my coming back to the University of Kansas about six months ago. He told me that he wanted to build Kansas Athletics into a program that would be competing for national championships in every sport. I believe that with the team Lew has put together, and with the support of the KU alumni, we can make this a reality."

Sayers has experience working in college athletics. After injury cut short his NFL career, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees at KU and served at KU as assistant athletic director. In 1976, he was selected athletic director at Southern Illinois University, becoming the first African-American athletic director in Division I.

In 1984, Sayers left athletics administration to launch a computer business.