U. announces search committee for new athletic director


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SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah athletic director Chris Hill will call it quits in June after a 31-year career overseeing the athletic arm of the university. On Monday, the university announced its search committee to find his replacement.

University President Ruth Watkins announced the 14-person committee Monday, which features several university employees and other individuals with an interest in the athletics program. The committee will work with Ventura Partners, a talent management firm, to assist in identifying viable candidates for the position and will expect to have its recommendations by the end of June.

“Our new athletic director will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the future direction and vitality of our university,” Watkins said in a prepared statement. “I’m grateful to everyone on the committee for their time and willingness to participate in the search.”

The committee will be co-chaired by Patti Ross, the university’s chief strategy officer, and Manny Hendrix, the associate director for development for the athletics department. Committee members from the athletics department include Liz Abel, associate athletic director; Lynne Roberts, head coach of the women’s basketball team; and Nate Orchard, a former Utah football player currently in the NFL.

The remaining members of the committee are as follows:

  • Lisa Eccles, philanthropist
  • Christian Gardner, university trustee
  • Jeff Herring, chief human resource officer
  • Harriet Hopf, interim associate vice president for faculty and professor of anesthesiology
  • Karen Paisley, associate dean, College of Health
  • David Parkin, university trustee
  • Robert Payne, associate general counsel
  • Robert Pendleton, associate professor of medicine and chief medical quality officer
  • Gordon Wilson, associate vice president for administrative services

“Each member brings a unique perspective and I know each will bring valuable insight to the selection process,” Watkins said.

Although the university will utilize a search committee to find a new athletic director, current associate athletic director Kyle Brennan has been considered a strong candidate to replace Hill. Brennan previously accepted the athletic director position at Montana State in 2016, but a week later had a change of heart and returned to Utah.

“I think Kyle Brennan is a superstar in the making,” Utah football head coach Kyle Whittingham said following the announcement of Hill’s retirement. “I think he’s ready for this. And if he does get the opportunity, I have no doubt he’d be successful.”

Hill announced his plans to retire on March 26, saying that his “heart is telling me it feels good, and so that’s all there is.” In Hill’s 31 years as athletic director, the athletics department grew tremendously as he gradually improved the prominence of the university and transitioned it into a Power 5 conference.

“The way you really, in my estimation, gauge his run as athletics director is where was the program when he took over and look where it is now,” Whittingham said. “It’s night and day.”

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Josh is the Sports Director for KSL.com and beat writer covering University of Utah athletics — primarily football, men’s and women's basketball and gymnastics. He is also an Associated Press Top 25 voter for college football.

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