If Pitt and Penn State ever renew their historic football rivalry, Heather Lyke won’t be Pitt’s AD for it.
Chris Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported Monday morning that Pitt had relieved Lyke, who had been on the job since March 2017, of her duties and the University confirmed the news not long after.
BREAKING: Sources have informed the @PittsburghPG that #Pitt has relieved athletic director Heather Lyke of her duties.
Lyke, hired in March 2017, signed an extension with Pitt in 2019 that tied her to the university through 2024.
More: https://t.co/IN7hTuGV7T
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) September 9, 2024
This move comes as a big surprise to many.
Under like, Pitt’s football program won its first ACC title in 2021. That was its first conference title of any kind since 2004. Pitt volleyball also made its first Final Four in 2021. It then made return trips in 2022 and 23. Lyke also hired Jeff Capel as the school’s men’s basketball coach in March 2018, a season after the program went winless in ACC play. The team made it to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and arguably should have again in 2024.
Here’s Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel’s statement:
“Today, I informed University of Pittsburgh director of athletics, Heather Lyke, that I was making a change in the leadership of our athletics program,” Gabel’s statement read. “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. Her tenure included successes from football’s first ACC championship to volleyball reaching its first-ever NCAA Final Four while representing the University at the conference and national levels. 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. On behalf of all Panthers, we wish Heather and her family the best with appreciation for their service to Pitt.
“We are immediately initiating a national, comprehensive search for a new Panthers director of athletics, and we are confident that under the direction of interim director of athletics Jennifer Tuscano, Pitt Athletics will continue to do its part to elevate our University and win the Pitt way — both in the classroom and in competition.”
Heather Lyke is out at Pitt. @CarterCritiques first. pic.twitter.com/qh20WqJDZ1
— Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) September 9, 2024
Penn State extended its AD, Pat Kraft, late last month for eight years.
