Since 2022, Jeff Purinton has been the guy calling the shots as Athletic Director at Arkansas State, and you can bet he’s left his mark. Think key hires like Bryan Hodgson and a real shot in the arm for fundraising—that’s all part of his doing. Before landing in Jonesboro, Purinton put in serious time at Alabama, 15 years to be exact, working his way up from football communications (way back in ’07) to senior associate AD by 2015. That kind of track record speaks for itself, and Arkansas State has definitely been feeling the positive impact.

When Arkansas State came knocking, Purinton saw something special: that crucial connection between winning in college sports and having everyone on the same page, leadership-wise. He knew the Red Wolves had that. “I am excited to be associated with an outstanding program that has enjoyed many achievements in the classroom, in competition and in the community, and I look forward to continuing to develop the Red Wolves’ strong national brand,” he said right off the bat, setting a vibe of teamwork and growth. But just when things seemed solid in Jonesboro, the winds changed. Word’s out that Purinton is stepping down as Arkansas State’s Vice Chancellor of Intercollegiate Athletics. Where’s he headed? A big move to Learfield, though his exact role is still hush-hush. But through all the twists and turns of his career journey, there’s been one steady force: his wife, always right there, offering her unwavering support.

Meet Julie Purinton: Jeff Purinton’s wife

Julie Purinton is a powerhouse in healthcare leadership. As Division President of AMN Healthcare’s Travel Nurse Division, she leads vital teams in account management, recruitment, and strategy. With 20+ years of experience—including time as Area Market Director at Jenny Craig—Julie knows how to grow teams and boost performance. At AMN, she’s spent 16 years inspiring success and championing personal development. On top of that, she’s also a committed community leader, serving on the board of the Alzheimer’s Association in San Diego. With a background in Organizational Leadership, Julie continues to drive impact both in business and beyond.

Growing up in Palatka, Florida, Jeff Purinton laid his groundwork at Florida State University, snagging both his sports management bachelor’s and his athletics administration master’s. His ride through the world of college athletics has been anything but typical, and right there with him through it all has been his wife, Julie. Her support has been rock-solid, and together with their two daughters, they’ve built a family that’s all about love and a real passion for making a difference in their community. Whether it’s their chill time with Nick Saban and his wife, Terry, or those yearly Christmas family pics all over Purinton’s Instagram, you can tell family is everything to them.

Who are Jeff Purinton’s kids?

​Jeff and Julie Purinton are proud parents to two daughters, Jillian and Josie. Jillian, the elder of the two, celebrated her 12th birthday on May 4, 2022—the same day Jeff was announced as Arkansas State University’s Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. This memorable coincidence marked a significant milestone for the Purinton family.​ While specific details about their daughters’ personal lives are kept private, it’s evident that family plays a central role in Jeff and Julie’s lives.

Jeff Purinton’s contract extension: terms, salary, and retention details

Jeff Purinton stuck around a little longer in Jonesboro. Arkansas State locked him in with a fresh contract extension through June 30, 2028. And Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields made it official, praising Purinton’s impact on and off the field. “Jeff has been a great leader on our campus and in our community, and under his leadership, we’ve seen great collaboration between athletics and all parts of campus,” said Shields. However, Purinton’s original deal was set to run through June 2027. With the new extension, he had another year to continue building the Red Wolves brand.

Jeff Purinton was fired up for the future of A-State Athletics. He was confident the program would continue to grow and succeed: “I am positive we can continue to enhance our national brand, win championships, excel academically and develop our student-athletes in everything we do.”

He also expressed deep gratitude for the support of the community: “I also can’t overstate how extremely supportive our Jonesboro and university community have been, making this a wonderful home for me and my family.” Purinton’s excitement for the future was palpable, and he was eager to tackle what’s next with A-State Athletics.

Purinton had everything he’d worked for. With a five-year contract worth $400,000 annually, he was stepping into the role he had long aspired to. Those who had followed his journey were certain that only the best was yet to come. His hard work had paid off, and the future looked bright as he took on this new chapter in his career.

In his first year, he streamlined the Athletics Department, restructuring internally for efficiency and hiring key personnel in development, marketing, finance, and compliance. He also renegotiated major deals with LEARFIELD, Adidas, and partnered with Amplify for a new revenue strategy.

Purinton made impactful hires, bringing in Sujay Lama for women’s tennis. Under his leadership, the Red Wolves captured 6 conference championships, a top-50 finish in the women’s Capital One Cup, and national runner-up honors in women’s bowling. Academically, A-State thrived, with a department-wide 3.10 GPA and over 200 student-athletes making the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll. Now, let’s see where the AD begins the next chapter of his career.