ADA, Okla. — The East Central University Foundation Board of Directors has selected Scott Linn to serve as the organization’s next chief executive officer. Linn, an East Central University alumnus and the Foundation’s current chief advancement officer, will succeed President Emeritus John R. Hargrave, who has led the Foundation since 2018.
The official leadership transition will take place during the ECU Foundation Annual Meeting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, in Foundation Hall inside the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center, 830 E. Main St., on the ECU campus.
The ECU Foundation conducted a comprehensive search with assistance from The Mettise Group and a selection committee composed of members of the ECU Foundation Executive Committee.
“Throughout this search, the Board focused on three priorities: passion for ECU, a commitment to Ada and the leadership qualifications needed to guide the Foundation forward,” said Jeremy Humphers, chair of the ECU Foundation Board of Directors. “Scott embodies each of those qualities, and we are confident in his ability to lead with purpose and integrity.”
Linn joined the ECU Foundation as chief advancement officer in 2025, leading fundraising, donor engagement and the ECU Forward campaign. In that role, he has worked closely with university leadership, Foundation staff, alumni, donors and friends of ECU to strengthen philanthropic support and advance the university’s priorities.
“ECU has tremendous momentum, and Scott has been a major part of that success through his leadership of the ECU Forward campaign,” ECU President Wendell Godwin said. “We are also deeply grateful for the guidance and extraordinary service of President Emeritus John Hargrave, whose more than two decades of connection to ECU as a student, President and Foundation CEO have made a lasting impact and positioned the Foundation for continued growth. This is a moment to celebrate all that has been accomplished and to look ahead with great excitement for what Scott will help ECU achieve next.”
“It is an incredible honor to be selected as CEO of the ECU Foundation and to continue serving a university that means so much to me and my family,” Linn said. “I am grateful for John Hargrave’s leadership and for the strong foundation he has built. I am excited to continue the momentum of the ECU Forward campaign, deepen our relationships with alumni and supporters, and help create a brighter future for ECU and its students.”
Before returning to ECU, Linn spent more than two decades in collegiate athletics, including 14 years as head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Midwestern State University. During his coaching career, he raised more than $1 million, earned more than 680 victories and received numerous regional and conference coaching honors. He also held coaching positions at Indiana University, Florida Southern College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Linn earned a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from ECU in 1995 and a Master of Science in Human Resources Administration from ECU in 1997. A former member of the ECU men’s tennis team, he was inducted into the East Central University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Linn and his wife, Amy, an ECU alumna from a family with deep ties to the university, have three children: Austin, Sydney and Alexis. Austin is also an ECU graduate and is currently pursuing a graduate degree at ECU.
Active in community outreach, Linn is a 2026 graduate of Leadership Ada and serves as an Ambassador for the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce. He has also volunteered with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Ada, Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and Read 2 Learn.
As CEO, Linn will lead the ECU Foundation’s fundraising, donor engagement and advancement efforts while working closely with university leadership and the Foundation Board of Directors. He will oversee fundraising initiatives designed to expand scholarship support, strengthen academic and campus programs and create meaningful opportunities for alumni and friends to invest in ECU’s future.
Linn will follow Hargrave, who has devoted much of his career to serving East Central University. A 1978 ECU graduate, Hargrave served as ECU’s eighth president from 2009 to 2017 before becoming CEO of the ECU Foundation in 2018.
During his presidency, Hargrave guided the university through significant growth and campus development. As Foundation CEO, he continued his service to ECU by strengthening relationships with donors, alumni and friends while supporting scholarships, fundraising initiatives and projects that enhance the student experience.
“I’m excited that Scott Linn will continue serving the ECU Foundation as CEO,” Hargrave said. “Scott brings passion, integrity and energy to our growing operation. I am very confident that his leadership will continue building the support the Foundation provides to East Central University.”
The leadership transition represents both the continuation of Hargrave’s lasting legacy and the beginning of a new chapter for the ECU Foundation.
ECU Foundation Annual Meeting
The ECU Foundation Annual Meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, in Foundation Hall inside the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center, 830 E. Main St., on the ECU campus.
About the East Central University Foundation
The East Central University Foundation works to advance the mission of East Central University by building relationships and generating private support for scholarships, academic programs, campus improvements and other university priorities. Through the generosity of alumni, donors and friends, the Foundation creates opportunities that support ECU students and strengthen the university’s future.
About East Central University
East Central University is a public university located in Ada, Oklahoma. ECU provides students with a personalized educational experience and offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs designed to prepare students for successful careers, meaningful service and lifelong learning.
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