BYU athletics has new leadership structure with eye toward Big 12

PROVO — One day before the final football media day as an FBS independent, BYU Athletics received a facelift.

The Cougars promoted David Almodova and Trevor Wilson to senior associate athletic director roles, rehired Dallan Moody to oversee finances, and brought back Tyson Hutchins from Clemson to oversee an associate AD role for creative content, all with an eye on conference changes, athletic director Tom Holmoe announced Tuesday.

The three new senior associate athletic directors will report directly to Holmoe, while the previous associate ADs who reported to Holmoe — a group that includes eight associate and assistant athletic directors — will now report through the new trio.

Almodova, who came to BYU in 2007 from Duke, will oversee external operations, including communications, design, marketing and fan experience, media relations, social media and video services. Wilson will oversee the Cougars' student-athlete ecosystem, including academic services and Built4Life, in a role similar to his previous title of associate dean of students, but now under the full-time purview of the athletic department.

Moody returns to BYU to oversee finance and strategy, including corporate sponsorships, development and fundraising and events and facilities. The former associate athletic director for finance at BYU has spent the last four years as CFO of Disruptive Advertising.

"While these changes won't completely overhaul our day-to-day operations as they are now in BYU Athletics, they will increase efficiencies for us dramatically and be an essential part of our future success," Holmoe said in a statement. "Getting ready for the jump to the Big 12 is not just the responsibility of our student-athletes and coaches. Every member of our BYU administrative, part-time and even student staff is essential and is being asked to step up, with the structures and resources in place to help us be our best.

"These changes at the top of our leadership structure will set us up for success as we look to enter the Big 12 in a position of strength. We'll never look exactly like another athletic department. BYU is different, and we'll continue to be different, and operate in the ways that are best for us and in line with our unique mission and vision, but as we've proven over the years, our uniqueness will not hold us back from being successful. In fact, it is what will ultimately make us the most successful we can be."

Hutchins' role is a new position with BYU athletics, tasked with overseeing social media and creative content, graphic design and creative video — similar to the role he held at Clemson for the past two years.

"The opportunity to return to a place I care so deeply about is a dream come true," said Hutchins, a BYU graduate in sociology who previously worked as a student employee and digital content and new media coordinator. "The national brand that is BYU is stronger than ever. As we embark to the Big 12, we have a unique opportunity to tell the BYU story to an entirely new set of fans and recruits. I am ecstatic to join this elite athletic department and help further the goals and ideals of this world-class institution."

The new promotions and hires gives BYU 14 associate athletic directors, in line with other Power Five programs like Utah (11) and Big 12 foe Baylor (19). That's in addition to a handful of assistant athletic director roles, such as former BYU football recruiting director Jasen Ah You's new position as an assistant AD for football academics and a similar role for longtime academic center employee Nycole Larsen over Olympic sports academics.

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