Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel has a monumental task ahead of her in replacing former Director of Athletics Heather Lyke, and she’s officially set the search into motion.
Gabel, who fired Lyke Monday morning after seven years at the helm of Pitt athletics, announced the formation of an advisory search committee.
“As we embark on a new era in intercollegiate athletics, I am happy to share with the Pitt community how we are moving forward in our search for the next Director of Athletics at the University of Pittsburgh,” Gabel said in a statement. “We are seeking a transformational leader to partner with University leadership in efforts to further elevate Pitt’s world-class student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans and donors.”
Advisory Committee:
- Pat Bostick, Senior Associate Athletic Director, major gifts
- Jeff Capel, men’s basketball head coach
- Aaron Donald, All-American football player
- Dwayne Pinkney, Executive Senior Vice Chancellor, administration and finance & CFO
- Donna Sanft, former Executive Associate Athletic Director, head gymnastics coach & Associate Dean of Students
- Peter Varischetti, Board of Trustees member
- Sheila Vélez Martínez, faculty athletics representative, Pitt School of Law
Pitt will also work with TurnkeyZRG, one of the leading sports executive search firms in the world.
It remains to be seen just who exactly will be prioritized by Gabel and the search committee, but it’s a pivotal decision. It will decide the future of Pitt athletics in the new era of college athletics.
Considering Pitt is moving on from Lyke, it’s only logical that her successor prioritizes what she didn’t. Gabel, by all accounts, isn’t afraid to invest in an athletic department. But in the new age of college athletics, those investments need to make sense. Massive investments in the non-revenue, Olympic sports aren’t it, unfortunately. It’s all about money.
Pitt needs a fundraiser, someone who is going to bring as much money to the athletic department as possible. Pitt won’t be able to keep up unless there are major changes in that regard.
So, Pitt needs someone who will be the face of the department, someone who is comfortable raising their voice and being on the “front lines,” per se. Lyke wasn’t around much, publicly, and that will need to change. Pitt needs a Director of Athletics who thrives in the public eye and is willing to do whatever it takes to generate revenue.
Pitt is woefully behind in the NIL space, and as much as Alliance 412 makes up ground, there needs to be a greater push. The next Director of Athletics must prioritize it. Again, it’s about making money.
It will be interesting to follow who Gabel and the committee prioritize in the coming days and weeks.
