Del Conte leaves TCU for new job at Texas
Former Rice AD will replace Perrin, who took over for fired Patterson
AUSTIN — Mike Perrin’s temporary run as Texas’ athletic director has come to an end.
The university on Saturday announced the hiring of Chris Del Conte, who had served TCU in the same position since 2009.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the time has come for me to take on a new challenge,” Del Conte said. “I have accepted the position as vice president of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Texas.”
UT president Greg Fenves will formally introduce Del Conte at a news conference Monday. Chris Plonsky will remain in her position as director of women’s athletics and report to Del Conte, and Perrin will remain at UT as an adviser to Del Conte until at least August.
“Chris has the experience, vision and character that’s needed for Texas to build on the Longhorns’ rich legacy and to continue winning with integrity for years to come,” Fenves said in a statement. “He knows the state of Texas, supports student-athletes and understands the media landscape of college sports, and he is one of the best athletics directors in the country.
Rice connection
Perrin operated as something of a placeholder after Steve Patterson’s firing in September 2015. The Houston attorney was brought in to stabilize a program that had plunged into utter disarray during Patterson’s brief tenure. But the plan always had been to find a permanent solution after the end of the past football season.
“The situation with Mike at Texas is not normal,” former Big Eight and Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas told the San Antonio Express-News last year. “He’s made his money (as a lawyer). He’s basically doing the university a favor. He’s an outlier.”
This summer, Sports Illustrated conducted a poll of college athletic directors to discover which of their peers did the job the best. Del Conte finished second in the voting behind Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione.
Del Conte, 49, earned about $695,000 annually as TCU’s athletic director, according to USA Today’s NCAA database. His new contract reportedly will run seven years and pay $1.3 million annually.
Under Del Conte’s guidance, TCU earned admittance into the Big 12 after spending seven seasons in the Mountain West Conference. His meeting with former UT athletic director DeLoss Dodds played a pivotal role in getting TCU the necessary votes.
Del Conte also pushed for and oversaw massive facility expansions of Amon G. Carter Stadium and Schollmaier Arena.
At UT, Del Conte will focus on building a new basketball arena and renovating Royal-Memorial Stadium’s south end zone.
Del Conte was Rice’s athletic director at the same time Tom Herman served as the football team’s offensive coordinator.
“I knew when a new athletics director took over that Greg Fenves would make a terrific hire, and he certainly did,” said Herman, in his first season as UT’s head coach. “I’m absolutely thrilled that Chris Del Conte will be leading our athletics department. I’ve known him for several years, worked with him during my time at Rice and have continued to admire his work from afar for a long time.
“We’re definitely in good hands, and I’m looking forward to a bright future with Chris leading the way.” On the job Monday
Fenves said Del Conte will get to work right away.
“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,” Fenves said. “You will see him at the Texas Bowl in a couple of weeks and at competitions involving all Longhorns teams very soon.”