Pitt’s athletic director search is reportedly coming to a close.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the Panthers athletic department is expected to hire Tennessee Senior Deputy Allen Greene as the school’s new A.D.
Greene was formerly the Athletic Director at Buffalo and Auburn.
“Greene brings a strong background in football, finances, NIL, and fundraising,” Thamel said.
Greene will replace former Pitt AD Heather Lyke.
Lyke was fired by Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel earlier this month after seven years at the helm of Pitt athletics. Her contract was up later this year, but Gabel wanted to athletic department to move in a new direction immediately.
Today, I informed University of Pittsburgh director of athletics, Heather Lyke, that I was making a change in the leadership of our athletics program,” Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement.
“Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program through a unique period in college athletics and we thank her for her leadership during that time. Her tenure included successes from football’s first ACC championship to volleyball reaching its first-ever NCAA Final Four, while representing the University at the conference and national level.
“However, as we enter a new era in college athletics, one that seems to change by the day, we need a new vision and a leader of our athletic department. On behalf of all Panthers, we wish Heather and her family the best with appreciation for their service to Pitt.”
Lyke did a lot of great things for Pitt. She raised the floor for Pitt athletics, bringing relevancy to the department that suffered in the years before she arrived, evidenced by two Pitt programs ranked No. 1 in the country.
The NACDA awarded her the 2023 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year, and she was a finalist for the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year award. In 2022-23 alone, Pitt hit its highest points total in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup and football, men’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer and wrestling all experienced high levels of success.
