Pittsburgh fires AD Heather Lyke: School cites need for ‘its new vision’ in moving on from veteran administrator

“Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program via a singular interval in faculty athletics and we thank her for her management throughout that point,” Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel mentioned in a press release. “Nonetheless, as we enter a brand new period in faculty athletics, one which appears to vary by the day, we’d like a brand new imaginative and prescient and a brand new chief of our athletics division.”

Lyke, who is very regarded throughout the faculty athletics business, had been Pittsburgh’s AD since 2017 and was named the 2023 NACDA AD of the 12 months. She has been talked about with a number of open AD jobs through the years, together with not too long ago with Northwestern and Ohio State. Earlier than Pittsburgh, she labored as Japanese Michigan’s athletic director. 

Whereas at Pitt, Lyke employed basketball coach Jeff Capel and oversaw a soccer program that gained an ACC championship in 2021. Earlier than Monday’s firing, Lyke’s contract was set to run via June 2025. 

Gabel, who arrived at Pittsburgh in April, additionally introduced that govt affiliate AD Jennifer Tuscano would function interim AD till a brand new rent was made.