Texas has hired TCU AD Chris Del Conte to take over for interim AD Mike Perrin. Sources have said he’ll be over ‘all’ programs.
From President Fenves’ statement: Starting Monday, Chris Del Conte will work closely with women’s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky as well as Longhorns coaches and the Athletics staff to continue to develop winning teams, improve the fan experience, upgrade facilities and — most of all — support students on the field, in the classroom and after they leave UT. You will see him at the Texas Bowl in a couple of weeks and at competitions involving all Longhorns teams very soon. https://president.utexas.edu/messag...m_medium=referral&utm_campaign=UTAustinSocial
I don’t know if anyone else has been to the new TCU basketball arena but, though waaay too much purple for my taste, it is very nice. Not so large that the court is swallowed up but plenty of seats with good sight lines.
well, just read about it on this board since this is the first one I go to. I have not idea if this is a good hire. I know most will be concerned about his impact on the FB program but, from what TCU has done in women sports, and especially WBB, looks like he is interested in the best in women sports as well. I have no idea how much impact his hiring will have on women sports, especially WBB, but hope that it will be totally positive.
I’m pretty sure Chris Plonsky has reported directly to President Fenves for some time but was that always the case? Was she listed under Dodds on the organizational hierarchy?
Yeah but the idea that when we get a new arena there will be waaay too much burnt orange for anyone's taste.
I think this was the old arrangement under Dodds and Patterson - so really status quo. Although I'd like the new AD to ask, "Hey, tell me about softball...." But, then again, TCU doesn't even field a softball team, so that's pretty much a pipe dream.
well, racer, maybe it will be like a new toy and he will be very interested in softball since he did not have it at TCU.
sounds like he will take more interest in women's sports than the other ADs. Of course, he is now the head honcho of the entire department with Plonsky reporting to him. Looks like women's sports will be well supported by the administration.
I really don't think there will be an impact on women's athletics one way or the other, especially short-term. Del Conte will have so many higher priority issues to deal with in his first few years; maybe he'll make an appearance at the women's Big 12 tournament in OKC in March.
I would expect him to attend at least the Florida State game, not the Northwestern State game. He sounded like attending games, men and women, was important to him. Of course, more pressing matters may cut into his time to attend games. We will find out.
I found this updated article about our new AD. Very interesting background to his life: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/article3835045.html
Dang Del Conte! http://texassports.com/news/2018/1/...one-time-gift-in-texas-athletics-history.aspx http://www.texassports.com/news/201...tes-3-million-to-the-university-of-texas.aspx I know much of this was in the works before you signed on, but way to bring the hay ($$$) in from the field!