Kirby Hocutt

Last updated

Kirby Hocutt
Current position
Title Athletic director
Team Texas Tech
Conference Big 12
Biographical details
Born1971
Sherman, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1991–1994 Kansas State
Position(s) Linebacker
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2005–2008 Ohio
2008–2011 Miami (FL)
2011–present Texas Tech

Kirby Hocutt is the athletic director at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and the Big 12 representative to the College Football Playoff committee. Additionally, Hocutt is the chairman of the NCAA Division I Football Recruiting Subcommittee. Hocutt formerly held the same position at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio from 2005 to 2008 and the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida from 2008 to 2011.

Contents

Early years

Kirby Hocutt earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in 1995, where he was a four-year letterman at the linebacker position. While playing for the Kansas State Wildcats, Hocutt earned all-conference team honors as a junior, and served as a team captain in his senior season. In 1993, The Sporting News selected him as one of the top 20 underrated players in the nation. Hocutt earned his Master of Education degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2001.

Career

From 1999 to 2005, Hocutt was at the University of Oklahoma and served as associate athletics director for external operations and sports administration. Prior to joining the Oklahoma staff, Hocutt served as the coordinator of licensing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He began his career in sports administration as the assistant director of marketing and promotions at his alma mater, Kansas State University.

At Oklahoma, he led the athletics fundraising to all-time high with both the Capital and Annual Giving campaigns. Oklahoma's annual giving went from $3.4 million to more than $17 million, [1] making it the highest percent increase in intercollegiate athletics history.

A $100 million capital campaign for Oklahoma Athletics was led by the leadership of Hocutt. The campaign focused on facility construction and improvements to Oklahoma's 20 intercollegiate sport programs.

Ohio

In 2005, at the age of 33, Hocutt was hired as athletic director at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. [1] Hocutt increased fundraising by more than 75 percent and also secured the second largest gift to athletics in school history. During his three-year tenure, the athletics department won 11 team championships and four head coaches were honored as coaches of the year. The football team played in its first bowl game in 38 years [2] and season ticket sales increased by 112 percent. Additionally, basketball season ticket sales increased by 50 percent.

On January 25, 2007, Hocutt announced the elimination of four varsity sports at Ohio University. Those sports include: men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's lacrosse. [3] The decision, made for budget reasons, was announced without any advance warning to the student athletes involved, causing major tension between the student body and the administration. [4] The Athletic Department later revealed that the money saved would be used to strategically reinvest in revenue sports. The projected savings totaled $500,000. The cuts also brought Ohio University from 20 varsity sports to the Football Bowl Subdivision minimum of 16. [5]

Less than a 13 months later, in 2008, Hocutt left Ohio University for the same position at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. [6]

Miami (FL)

Hocutt was introduced as the University of Miami's 11th Director of Athletics on Feb. 8, 2008 and began his tenure on June 1, 2008. While Director of Athletics for the Miami Hurricanes, Hocutt oversaw $26 million in new projects, including:

- the construction of a basketball practice facility;

- an upgrade to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field;

- an upgrade to the Neil Schiff Tennis Center, and;

- an upgrade to Cobb Stadium, home to the Hurricanes women's soccer and track and field teams. [7]

Hocutt was succeeded by former Wisconsin Assistant Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst. In 2009, Hurricane Football was co-recipient of the American Football Coaches Association Academic Achievement award for graduating 100 percent of the football athletes.

In 2010, all 18 Hurricane teams excelled in the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate Report (APR) and the athletic program recorded the best Graduation Success Rate of 86 percent. Miami finished sixth in the APR and is the only school Bowl Championship team among the 26 schools recognized that finished ranked in the final USA Today Coaches Poll and Associated Press poll following the 2009 athletic season.

A few months after Hocutt left Miami for Texas Tech, NCAA officials visited Miami to investigate allegations made by a former booster, Nevin Shapiro, a felon who is incarcerated for his role in a $900 million Ponzi Scheme. Shapiro said he gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash to Miami players and the service of prostitutes and entertainment at his million dollar homes and yachts from 2002 to 2010. [8]

Texas Tech

On February 26, 2011, Hocutt resigned as director of athletics from the University of Miami for the same position at Texas Tech University. Hocutt replaced the retiring Gerald Myers, who served as athletic director for the Texas Tech Red Raiders since 1996. [9] In his first month as athletic director, Hocutt hired Billy Gillispie to be the men's basketball coach. [10] Former coach Pat Knight was fired before Hocutt took over as AD. On December 12, 2012, Hocutt hired former Texas Tech player Kliff Kingsbury to fill the football head coaching vacancy left by the resignation of Tommy Tuberville. Hocutt is the current chairman of the NCAA Division I Football Recruiting Subcommittee.

In February 2015, Hocutt was selected to replace West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck as the Big 12 Conference's representative to the College Football Playoff committee. [11]

Personal life

He and his wife, Diane, have two sons, Drew and Brooks. In March 2010, Hocutt was selected as a "Forty Under 40" recipient by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal; the publication's program identifies and honors young executives in the sports business under the age of 40.

Texas Tech Athletics

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Stoops</span> American football player and coach (born 1960)

Robert Anthony Stoops is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He was the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1999 through the 2016 season, and on an interim basis during the 2021 Alamo Bowl. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a record of 191–48 over his career. His 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team won the 2001 Orange Bowl, which served as the BCS National Championship Game, and earned a consensus national championship. Since 2020, Stoops has been a head coach with the XFL, coaching the Renegades in 2020 and has been re-signed for 2023. Stoops' Renegades won the XFL Championship in 2023.

Larry Edward Coker is a former American football coach and player. He served as the head football coach of the University of Miami from 2001 to 2006 and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) from 2011 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Hurricanes football</span> University of Miami American football team

The Miami Hurricanes football team represents the University of Miami in college football. The Hurricanes compete in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of collegiate football in the nation. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of the five Power Five conferences in college football. The program began in 1926. Since then, it has since won five AP national championships in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kliff Kingsbury</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Kliff Timothy Kingsbury is an American professional football coach and former quarterback who is the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, finishing in the top three in several school passing records before being selected in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He was a member of several other NFL and CFL teams before entering coaching in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Tech Red Raiders</span> Athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University

The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, Texas, United States. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders, while the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohio Bobcats</span> College sport team in Ohio

The Ohio Bobcats are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio, United States. Ohio University is a charter member (1946) of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), is currently in the East Division of that conference, and sponsors teams in six men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level for college football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Gillispie</span> American college basketball coach

Billy Clyde Gillispie, also known by his initials BCG and Billy Clyde, is an American college basketball and current men's basketball coach at Tarleton State. Gillispie had previously been head coach at UTEP, Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Texas Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 NCAA Division I-A football season</span> American college football season

The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on August 28, 2004 and ended on December 4, 2004. The postseason concluded on January 4, 2005 with the Orange Bowl, which served as the season's Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma Sooners football</span> Football team of the University of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners football team represents the University of Oklahoma (OU) in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The program began in 1895 and is one of the most successful in history, having won 949 games and possessing a .725 winning percentage, both sixth all-time. Oklahoma has appeared in the AP poll 905 times, including 101 No. 1 rankings, both third all-time. The program claims seven national championships, 50 conference championships, 167 first-team All-Americans, and seven Heisman Trophy winners. The school has had 29 former players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and holds the record for the longest winning streak in Division I history with 47 straight victories. Oklahoma is also the only program with which four coaches have won more than 100 games each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Longhorns football</span> Intercollegiate team representing The University of Texas at Austin in American football

The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate team representing the University of Texas at Austin in the sport of American football. The Longhorns compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their home games are played at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Hurricanes</span> Intercollegiate sports teams representing the University of Miami

The Miami Hurricanes, known informally as The U,UM, or The 'Canes, are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The Hurricanes compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the highest level of collegiate athletics. The University of Miami's football team has won five national championships and its baseball team has won four national championships. Across all sports, the Hurricanes have won 21 national championships and 83 individual national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision</span> Top level of college football in the U.S.

The NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), formerly known as Division I-A, is the highest level of college football in the United States. The FBS consists of the largest schools in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As of the 2024 season, there are 10 conferences and 134 schools in FBS.

Gerald Myers is an American former college basketball coach. He was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team and the Houston Baptist Huskies men's basketball team and athletic director at Texas Tech University.

The History of Texas Tech Red Raiders football covers 95 seasons since the team began play as the "Matadors" in 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the highest level of college football competition in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The regular season began on August 26, 2016, and ended on December 10, 2016. The postseason concluded on January 9, 2017, with the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Clemson Tigers defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide to claim their second national title in school history. The championship game was a rematch of the 2016 edition won by Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 150th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The regular season began on August 24, 2019, and ended on December 14, 2019. The postseason concluded on January 13, 2020, with the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The LSU Tigers defeated the defending champion Clemson Tigers by a score of 42–25 to claim their first national championship in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era, and fourth overall. It was the sixth season of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 152nd season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision. The regular season began on August 28, 2021, and ended on December 11, 2021. The postseason began on December 17, with the main games ending on January 10, 2022, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the all-star portion of the post-season concluding with the inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 19, 2022. It was the eighth season of the College Football Playoff (CFP) system. It was the first time since 2016 that no major team finished the season undefeated as the Cincinnati Bearcats, the season's last undefeated team, were defeated in the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic. The season's Heisman Trophy winner was Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young.

Julie Cromer is the athletic director at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and served as a co-chair of the NCAA Division I Transformation Committee. She is the first female athletic director for the Ohio Bobcats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season</span> American college football season

The 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 154th season of college football in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at its highest level of competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The regular season began on August 26 and ended on December 9. The postseason began on December 15, and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, ended on January 8, 2024, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

References

  1. 1 2 Athens News Staff (June 30, 2005). "OU names new athletic director from other OU". Athensnews.com. The Athens News. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Athens NEWS Staff (November 30, 2006). "Bobcats headed toward third-ever bowl game". Athensnews.com. The Athens News. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  3. ↑ The Athens News Staff (February 1, 2007). "While OU cuts sports, it retains ambitious athletic facilities plan". Athensnews.com. The Athens News. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  4. ↑ Athens News Staff (February 19, 2007). "Student Senate, athletes speak out against plan to cut four sports". athensnews.com. The Athens News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  5. ↑ Chalifoux, Mark (January 29, 2007). "The (sports) Gospel According to Mark: OU athletics director gets a bum rap for doing what he had to do". athensnew.com. The Athens News. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  6. ↑ The Associated Press (February 8, 2008). "Ohio University's Hocutt to replace Dee at Miami". ESPN.com. The Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Player Bio: Kirby Hocutt - HurricaneSports.com - the University of Miami Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ Thamel, Peter. "Hurricane Players and Recruits Accused of N.C.A.A. Violations". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Kirby Hocutt Chosen to Lead Texas Tech Athletics".
  10. ↑ "Kirby Hocutt talks about hiring Gillispie, first month on the job | Red Raiders". www.redraiders.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011.
  11. ↑ Trotter, Jake (February 9, 2015). "Kirby Hocutt to join CFP group". ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2015.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.