In a decision that caught much of the industry off-guard, Pittsburgh announced Monday that athletic director Heather Lyke was out, effective immediately.
“Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program through a unique period in college athletics and we thank her for her leadership during that time,” Pitt chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement. “However, 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 athletics department.”
Lyke, who is highly regarded within the college athletics industry, had been Pittsburgh’s AD since 2017 and was named the 2023 NACDA AD of the Year. She has been mentioned with multiple open AD jobs over the years, including recently with Northwestern and Ohio State. Before Pittsburgh, she worked as Eastern Michigan’s athletic director.
While at Pitt, Lyke hired basketball coach Jeff Capel and oversaw a football program that won an ACC championship in 2021. Before Monday’s firing, Lyke’s contract was set to run through June 2025.
Gabel, who arrived at Pittsburgh in April, also announced that executive associate AD Jennifer Tuscano would serve as interim AD until a new hire was made.
