Tag: athletic director

Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts receives new 6-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas A&M’s board of regents announced a new six-year contract for athletic director Trev Alberts on Friday.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal. It will run through 2031 to coincide with the term of head football coach Mike Elko, who received an extension through the same season last week.

“As we navigate the changing college athletics landscape, Trev Alberts’ professionalism, knowledge and business-minded approach is just what we need to compete boldly in the future,” said Tommy Williams, the university’s interim president. “His new, extended contract reflects our confidence in a leader who embodies our core values and understands the heartbeat of Aggie Athletics is the 12th Man.”

Alberts, 55, was hired away from Nebraska in March 2024 to replace Ross Bjork, who accepted the same position at Ohio State.

During his tenure, the Aggies’ women’s tennis team and the men’s outdoor track and field team have won national titles.

Alberts, a former All-American linebacker at Nebraska, is currently overseeing a football team that is ranked No. 3 in the nation and is 10-0 (7-0 Southeastern Conference). With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the Aggies are poised for their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Elko said Alberts has been key to the success of the football program.

“We’re building something special here at Texas A&M, and my partnership with Trev is an integral part of that,” Elko said. “I’ve truly appreciated his leadership, especially the open dialogue he maintains with his coaches to gather feedback and elevate Texas A&M as one of the nation’s premier brands. This contract ensures continuity in the momentum we’ve already created, and I’m excited about our future.”

–Field Level Media

Baylor AD Mack Rhoades taking leave, also stepping away as CFP chair

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Mack Rhoades is taking a leave from his job as athletic director at Baylor and also stepping away from his position as the College Football Playoff chairman, ESPN reported Thursday, citing personal reasons.

Per the report, Rhoades told ESPN that he informed the school he intended to leave his role for now but declined to provide a more specific reason.

Yahoo Sports reported that Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek is being nominated to serve as Rhoades’ replacement as CFP commitment chair. The Big 12 is recommending Utah AD Mark Harlan fill the spot on the board.

The university told ESPN that unspecified allegations were made against Rhoades on Monday that do not involve the football team or issues pertaining to student welfare, NCAA rules or Title IX.

Last month, he and tight end Michael Trigg reportedly had words about a shirt Trigg was wearing during Baylor’s Sept. 20 game against Arizona State. Baylor previously said in a news release that the alleged incident had been “thoroughly reviewed and investigated in accordance with University policies, appropriate actions were taken and the matter is now closed.”

Joyan Overshown, the deputy athletic director, and Cody Hall, a senior associate athletic director, will team to fill the AD job on an interim basis, ESPN reported. They are the athletic department’s COO and CFO, respectively.

Rhoades, 60, was appointed the Bears’ AD on July 13, 2016.

–Field Level Media

Graham Neff, Clemson University Tigers Athletic Director, gives a State of Clemson Athletics speech in the Smart Family Media Center in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Clemson extends AD Graham Neff’s contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clemson athletic director Graham Neff received a six-year, $9 million contract extension Friday from the school’s board of trustees.

The new deal runs through 2031 and includes an annual base salary of $1 million, increasing $100,000 each year. There are also bonuses up to $250,000 each year and a retention bonus of $300,000 if he remains in the position next July. He will receive an additional $250,000 in deferred compensation each year.

Neff, 41, has been leading the Tigers’ athletic department since late 2021. His contract was due to expire in 2027.

“He’s doing a wonderful job as our AD and represents us very well on the national scale,” school president James Clements said, per the Post and Courier. “We’d like to lock him in long term and make sure that he remains at Clemson for the remainder of his career.”

Notable personnel moves during Neff’s tenure include hiring baseball coach Erik Bakich and extending contracts for football coach Dabo Swinney and men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell.

Previously the deputy AD at Clemson since 2014 before his promotion, Neff recently helped the school settle its legal dispute with the Atlantic Coast Conference over exit fees and revenue sharing.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Stanford Cardinal place kicker Emmet Kenney (13) is carried by teammates following his game winning field goal against the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Ex-Nike CEO John Donahoe named AD at Stanford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Nike CEO John Donahoe will take over as the athletic director at Stanford, where he earned his graduate degree.

His first day on the job will be Sept. 8.

Donahoe, 65, comes to the position with decades of management experience. He was the CEO of Nike from 2020-24 and served on its board of directors beginning in 2014. In previous roles, he was the CEO of ServiceNow, a global software company, of eBay and of Bain & Company, a management consulting firm. He also was the board chair at PayPal from 2015-25.

“Stanford occupies a unique place in the national athletics landscape,” campus president Jon Levin said in a statement. “We needed a distinctive leader — someone with the vision, judgment, and strategic acumen for a new era of college athletics, and with a deep appreciation for Stanford’s model of scholar-athlete excellence. John embodies these characteristics. We’re grateful he has agreed to lead Stanford Athletics through this critical period in college sports.”

Donahoe holds his undergraduate degree in economics from Dartmouth College and his MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

“My north star for 40 years has been servant leadership, and it is a tremendous honor to be able to come back to serve a university I love and to lead Stanford Athletics through a pivotal and tumultuous time in collegiate sports,” Donahoe said. “Stanford has enormous strengths and enormous potential in a changing environment, including being the model for achieving both academic and athletic excellence at the highest levels.”

Stanford competes in 36 sports. In football, he will work with a Stanford alum, former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck, who is entering his second season as the school’s football general manager.

“He brings unparalleled experience and elite leadership to our athletic department in a time of opportunity and change,” Luck said. “I could not be more excited to partner with and learn from him.”

Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who also earned his MBA at Stanford, endorsed the hire.

“Stanford has made an excellent choice for its new athletic director in John Donahoe. They will not find anyone smarter or with more integrity and dedication,” Knight said.

Donahoe replaces Bernard Muir, who was athletic director for 13 years before stepping down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year.

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Rutgers Scarlet Knights helmet during the Rate Bowl at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Rutgers introduces Keli Zinn as new athletic director

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Rutgers has named former LSU executive Keli Zinn as its new athletic director.

Zinn had been the deputy athletic director and chief operating officer at LSU since 2022. Before that, she worked in the athletic departments at West Virginia and Maryland and for the Big East Conference.

“Keli Zinn brings the strategic drive, operational excellence, and championship pedigree we need right now for Rutgers Athletics,” said William F. Tate IV, the new Rutgers president who also came over from LSU, in a statement issued Wednesday. “Her leadership style resonates deeply with Rutgers’ mission — competitiveness on the field, integrity in our practices, and excellence in the student athlete experience. She will guide Rutgers into a new era, with forward-looking leadership, tapping into the Rutgers Edge.”

Zinn officially begins her tenure in Piscataway, N.J., on Aug. 6. Her five-year deal makes her the highest-paid AD in school history, with a base salary starting at $1.35 million and rising to $1.55 million. Bonuses are available based on the performance of the football and men’s and women’s basketball teams.

“I am honored to join Rutgers at this exciting juncture, and I want to thank President Tate and the Board of Governors for this incredible opportunity,” Zinn said. “Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities, and I look forward to working with our campus leaders, student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, and fans to build on Rutgers’ strong tradition, amplify opportunities to support our athletic programs, maintain top tier compliance, and pursue excellence both on and off the field. We will compete with the nation’s best and we will represent the university with integrity and pride in all we do.”

Zinn will oversee 24 varsity sports programs with more than 730 student-athletes competing in the Big Ten.

Among her first priorities will be expanding Rutgers’ name, image and likeness program, as she did at LSU.

The AD position had been vacant since Pat Hobbs resigned under a cloud last August. He cited health reasons for his departure but a later investigation revealed an improper relationship with a gymnastics coach.

Ryan Pisarri served as the Scarlet Knights’ interim AD before taking the same position at Tufts earlier this month.

–Field Level Media

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione talks during a press conference before a celebration for OU joining the Southeastern Conference in Norman, Okla., Monday, July 1, 2024.

Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione retiring after 27 years

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione, who has guided the Sooners’ sports operations since 1998, will retire from his full-time role during the upcoming school year, the university announced on Monday.

Castiglione’s retirement will end the longest current tenure for an athletic director in major college sports.

Castiglione, 67, plans to stay on as athletic director emeritus following the hiring of his successor. A news conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning to officially make the announcement. University president Joseph Harroz Jr., in a letter to the OU community, said Castiglione’s retirement date is June 30, 2028, making for 30 years, according to a report from KWTV-News 9 in Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma has captured 26 national championships and 117 league titles during his 27 years in Norman, which included the transition from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.

Castiglione was named the athletic director of the year by Sports Business Journal in 2009 and shared the award in 2018. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics named him its top AD in 2000 and 2018.

The Sooners won a national championship in football in 2000 and reached the men’s basketball Final Four in 2002 and 2016. The softball program has captured eight national titles since 2000, and the women’s basketball team made the Final Four in 2002, 2009 and 2010.

Including his five years as the AD at Missouri before taking over at OU, a total of 32 of his former employees have gone on to become athletic directors or commissioners, per ESPN.

–Field Level Media

Oct 21, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets athletic director J Batt on the field before a game against the Boston College Eagles at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Michigan State hires J Batt as athletic director

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Michigan State announced the hiring of J Batt as the Spartans’ new athletic director on Monday.

Batt has held that same position at Georgia Tech since 2022 after serving as deputy AD at Alabama (2017-22) and associate AD at East Carolina (2013-17).

“J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader,” school president Kevin Guskiewicz said. “He will bring experience, excitement and a commitment to elevating Spartan athletics to the next level. We are thrilled to have J join our leadership team at Michigan State.”

Batt’s tenure in East Lansing will begin the week of June 16, following confirmation by the board of trustees at its June 13 meeting.

Batt, 43, will receive a six-year contract worth more than $1.5 million annually and a buyout of more than $1 million, according to The Detroit News.

“This is truly an amazing opportunity to lead an outstanding, tradition-rich and passionate program, and I am grateful to President Guskiewicz and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity,” Batt said. “Working together, in alignment with university leadership, the full athletics department and an enthusiastic fan base, we can take the positive momentum already happening at MSU and reach new levels of success as we move into the next era of intercollegiate athletics. My family and I look forward to joining the Michigan State and East Lansing communities.”

Spartans men’s basketball coach and current co-interim AD Tom Izzo praised the hiring.

“This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” Izzo said. “With J Batt’s hiring, President Kevin Guskiewicz has found the right person to lead our department as college athletics continues to evolve. J has displayed tremendous innovation as a leader and has a proven track record of revenue generation. We are excited to welcome J and his family to Michigan State.”

Batt replaces Alan Haller, who was relieved of his duties on May 1 after less than four years in the position.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Detailed view of a Maryland Terrapins helmet during the game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Virginia Cavaliers at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

Former Braves VP James E. Smith named Maryland AD

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Maryland named former Atlanta Braves executive James E. Smith as its new athletic director on Thursday.

Smith had been the Braves’ senior vice president of business strategy for the past five years.

Smith previously served as president and CEO of the Ohio State University Alumni Association.

“We are proud of the athletics tradition here at the University of Maryland and of the accomplishments of our coaches and student-athletes who represent the red, black, white and gold,” Maryland president Darryll J. Pines said in a release. “As college athletics rapidly evolves, Jim brings valuable administrative and business experience, plus the energy, vision and passion to lead our athletics program to new levels of success and impact.”

Smith’s background also includes a series of executive positions at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment, where he was in charge of revenue and marketing for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS club Atlanta United.

“It is a great honor to be chosen to lead the athletics department at the University of Maryland and to guide UMD’s storied programs into the next era,” Smith said. “I am highly motivated to build upon excellence and lead Maryland forward in a dynamic and pivotal time for intercollegiate athletics, with a sharp focus on student-athlete health, well-being and academic success.”

Smith replaces Damon Evans, who left in March to take the same position at SMU. Evans had been the Maryland athletic director since 2018.

–Field Level Media

Jan 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; (editor’s note, in camera motion blur) A view of the SMU Mustangs logo during the first half of the game between the SMU Mustangs and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

SMU athletic director Rick Hart to step down

Posted on | by Field Level Media

SMU athletic director Rick Hart announced Friday that he will be leaving his position at the end of the school year.

“It is with tremendous pride, heartfelt love, and yes, mixed emotions, that I share with you that I have made the decision that this academic year will be my last at SMU,” Hart wrote in a statement posted to X.

“… It is time for a new challenge for me and for a new voice to lead the Mustangs.”

Hart took over as athletic director at SMU in July 2012. He was in charge of overseeing the Mustangs’ shift to the Atlantic Coast Conference, which took effect with the 2024-25 school year. In its first year in the conference, the football program advanced to the 12-team College Football Playoff.

His departure coincides with that of university president R. Gerald Turner, who announced last summer that he would leave the school effective June. 1.

Hart said that by leaving now, incoming president Jay Hartzell — most recently the president at the University of Texas — will be able to “move forward with his own vision.”

In his statement, Hart did not specify what his next move will be.

“When I interviewed for this job, President Turner shared that he wished for a nationally competitive athletics program on par with the quality of the university,” Hart said in his statement. “Mission accomplished! Of course, there is always more we could have done and more that lies ahead, but I am excited for what comes next for me and for SMU athletics.”

In a news release, SMU said it will begin it search for Hart’s successor “in the coming weeks.”

–Field Level Media

Former Auburn Athletic Director Allen Greene, reportedly hired at Pitt on Friday, pictured in a file photo greeting students before Auburn Tigers men's basketball takes on Texas A&M Aggies at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022.

Allen Greene hired as AD at Pitt

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pitt is hiring Allen Greene as its next athletic director.

“Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world,” chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement Friday.

“In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader who exemplifies the Pitt way, and who has all of the experience and intangibles to elevate our athletics program in competition and in the classroom. In my conversations with Allen and with many others who know him well, it is clear that he will lead us successfully into the new world of intercollegiate athletics.”

Greene worked as a senior deputy athletic director and the chief operating officer at Tennessee since December 2023. He previously served as athletic director at Auburn (2018-22) and Buffalo (2015-18) and also filled a deputy AD role at Ole Miss in 2023.

The Seattle-area native graduated from Notre Dame, where he was an outfielder for the Fighting Irish. The New York Yankees selected him in the ninth round of the 1998 MLB Draft and he played four years in the minor leagues before beginning his career in sports administration.

Greene, 47, replaces Heather Lyke, who was dismissed on Sept. 6.

–Field Level Media