When Chris Pezman was dismissed from his role as the athletic director at the University of Houston, school president Renu Khator highlighted a need for change in response to what she called a “paradigm shift in college athletics.”
A year into its membership in the Big 12, UH finds itself at a critical juncture. The college athletics business model is rapidly changing, with developments such as name, image, and likeness (NIL) and a revenue share plan to pay athletes, expected to take effect in late 2025. UH, already playing catch-up, faces the risk of falling further behind.
Men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson recently emphasized that despite being in the Big 12, UH does not yet fully embody a Big 12 school.
The next athletic director at UH will inherit a department that has seen significant growth in recent years, including the construction of new facilities, such as the upcoming $130 million Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center scheduled to open in 2025. Under Sampson, the men’s basketball program has achieved elite status and is regularly in contention for national titles, while many hope for a revival of the football program under Willie Fritz in his first season.
As UH adapts to the evolving business model of college athletics, there will be a focus on finding innovative ways to generate revenue, considering that the school’s operating budget ranks at the bottom among Power Four programs, as stated by Khator. Expanding the donor base will also be a priority.
Regarding the search for a new athletic director, a source familiar with the process mentioned that the university is currently in an exploratory phase and will be looking at available options.
The search committee at UH will prioritize candidates who have overseen major athletic departments and have experience in football, men’s basketball, and baseball. While no specific timeline has been provided for the hiring process, Raymond S. Bartlett, UH’s senior vice president for administration and finance, will serve as the interim athletic director in the meantime.
The Houston Chronicle’s UH beat writer, Joseph Duarte, has suggested a few potential candidates for the role, including Jeramiah Dickey, the current athletic director at Boise State, and David Sayler, the current athletic director at Miami (Ohio). Both have relevant experience and ties to the Houston area.
Scott Barnes
Current role: Vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics at Oregon State
Barnes is widely respected on a national level and has a strong background in fundraising. He has been leading Oregon State’s athletic department since 2016, having previously served as the athletic director at Utah State (2008-2015) and Pittsburgh (2015-2016). Having chaired the NCAA Division I basketball committee in the past, Barnes would be a natural fit at UH, especially considering the university’s status as one of the top programs in the nation under Kelvin Sampson. With the recent developments in the Pac-12 conference, UH could also offer a more stable environment if Barnes chooses to make a move.
Lisa Campos
Current role: Vice president for intercollegiate athletics at UTSA
Campos recently agreed to a three-year contract extension lasting through 2029. Since assuming the position in 2017, UTSA has seen considerable development, transitioning from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference and completing 61𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠.𝑈𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑠′𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑝,𝑈𝑇𝑆𝐴ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑−𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑒𝑠,𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚30.4 million in 2021 to $50.4 million in 2023, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
David Fletcher Current role: General manager of Lone Star Sports & Entertainment
Fletcher possesses a distinct skill set based on his extensive experience as the general manager at Lone Star Sports & Entertainment. In this role, he has been responsible for bringing major sporting events to NRG Stadium, including international soccer matches and regular-season as well as postseason football games. Given the shift from traditional donor relationships to commercial revenue in light of name, image, and likeness opportunities, Fletcher’s business background (which includes negotiating numerous major corporate sponsorships for the Texans) presents an unconventional option.
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