A new era is here!
Athletic director Heather Lyke has been fired by the University of Pittsburgh, a shocking move that comes just months before Lyke’s current deal expiring.
The announcement was made Monday by Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel, according to The Associated Press. (RELATED: Florida State Spent A Whopping $12 Million On NIL Just To Start Out Season 0-2: REPORT)
Gabel issued a thank you to Lyke for her eight years of leadership, however, stated that a new head was needed as the landscape of college sports changes at a quick pace.
“We need a new vision and a new leader of our athletics department,” said Gabel in a statement.
Arriving at Pitt in 2017, Lyke helped the Panthers get established in the ACC after their exit from the Big East. Under her guidance, the football team won the 2021 ACC championship, their men’s basketball program claimed back relevancy, their men’s soccer team reached two College Cups in 2020 and 2022, and their women’s volleyball team became a powerhouse.
Pitt announces that athletic director Heather Lyke is out after eight years at the school. Shocked by this decision.
Lyke had been a candidate for other AD jobs in recent months, including the now-filled Northwestern job.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 9, 2024
Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement that “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 athletic department.”
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) September 9, 2024
I’m gonna go ahead and assume that Heather Lyke didn’t raise enough NIL money … why else would she get fired?
