In a surprise decision, Pittsburgh fired athletic director Heather Lyke on Monday, the school announced, ending her seven-year run leading the Panthers’ athletic department.
Lyke — whose contract was set to expire in 2025 — received AD of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2023 In recent weeks, she was a finalist for the same position at Northwestern and had also been involved in Ohio State’s AD search earlier this summer.
“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,” chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement. “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 new leader of our athletics department.”
Executive associate athletic director Jennifer Tuscano will be Pitt’s interim athletic director while the school searches for a permanent hire.
During Lyke’s time at Pitt, she oversaw widespread athletic department success, including the school’s first ACC football championship in 2021, three volleyball Final Four appearances, and two men’s soccer College Cup appearances in the last four years. Lyke also hired men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel, who has led Pitt to a 46-23 record the last two seasons, not to mention the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016. One of Lyke’s final moves as AD was extending Capel’s contract in July, tying him to the program through the 2029-30 season.
Lyke also served as chair of the ACC Director of Athletics group and is on the board of directors for Women Leaders in College Sports.
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