Heading North: TCU Hires Rice's Chris Del Conte As New AD

Del Conte Will Begin Position As TCU AD In Early November

Texas Christian Univ. (TCU) yesterday named Rice Univ. AD Chris Del Conte to the same position and he will "start his new job ... in early November," according to Stefan Stevenson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Del Conte was given a "five-year contract with a two-year school option" to replace Danny Morrison, who left to become NFL Panthers President on September 28. Del Conte was chosen from a "final list of eight applicants, all of whom are athletic directors;" a source said that Xavier Univ. AD Mike Bobinski was one of the finalists. The main task for Del Conte will be "helping to raise funds to renovate Amon G. Carter Stadium, the school’s 79-year-old football field, or perhaps build a new stadium." TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini said, "He’s first got to raise friends. You can’t raise funds until you raise friends. People give to people, not to causes." Stevenson notes Del Conte, who had been at Rice since June '06, headed up a campaign at the school "that raised $90[M] for upgrades to the Owls’ athletic, recreation and wellness facilities." His "record of fundraising at Rice and Arizona, where he was named senior associate athletics director in 2003, was very important to Boschini" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/22).

MONEY MATTERS: In Ft. Worth, Jim Reeves writes TCU's decision to hire Del Conte "was all about the money." There was "no question about what kind of athletic director" the TCU search committee "was looking for when it began its search for Danny Morrison's replacement." Reeves: "The money-making kind. ... Big-time college athletics today is about the ability to raise money." Reeves noted TCU "proudly listed" that Del Conte "raised more than $90[M] for the Rice Vision for the Second Century Campaign" and "secured $41[M] to open the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center" during his time at Rice (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/22).

RICE'S NEXT STEPS: In Houston, Jeffrey Martin notes Rice Senior Associate AD David Sayler will serve as the school's interim AD, and a "national search will be conducted" for Del Conte's full-time replacement (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/22).