Kirby Hocutt
Encyclopedia
Kirby Hocutt is the current athletic director
at Texas Tech University
in Lubbock, Texas
. Hocutt formerly held the same position at Ohio University
in Athens, Ohio
from 2005–2008 and the University of Miami
in Coral Gables, Florida
from 2008–2011.
in 1995, where he was a four-year letterman at the linebacker position. While playing for the Kansas State Wildcats
, Hocutt earned all-conference team honors as a junior, and served as a team captain in his senior season. In 1993, The Sporting News selected him as one of the top 20 underrated players in the nation. Hocutt earned his Master of Education degree
from the University of Oklahoma
in 2001.
and most recently served as associate athletics director for external operations and sports administration. Prior to joining the Oklahoma staff, Hocutt served as the coordinator of licensing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA). He began his career in sports administration as the assistant director of marketing and promotions at his alma mater, Kansas State University.
at Ohio University
in Athens, Ohio
. On January 25, 2007, Hocutt announced the elimination of four varsity sports. Those sports include: men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's lacrosse. The decision was announced without any advance warning to the student athletes involved causing major tension between the student body and the administration. The Ohio Bobcats athletic department
later revealed that the money saved would be used to strategically reinvest in revenue sports. Less than a thirteen months later, in 2008, Hocutt left Ohio University for the same position at the University of Miami
in Coral Gables, Florida
.
's 11th Director of Athletics on Feb. 8, 2008 and began his tenure on June 1, 2008. While Director of Athletics for the Miami Hurricanes
, Hocutt oversaw $26 million in new projects, including the construction of a basketball practice facility, as well as upgrades to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, the Neil Schiff Tennis Center and Cobb Stadium
, home to the Hurricanes women's soccer and track and field teams. He was succeeded by former Wisconsin Assistant Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst.
In August 2011, The Associated Press reported that the NCAA is investigating Hocutt's relationship with Ponzi scheme
r Nevin Shapiro
after Shapiro said that he made contributions to football players in violation of NCAA policies. Hocutt was said to permit Shapiro access to the sideline before football games at times during the 2008 season. Hocutt responded saying, "Shapiro was treated like other members of the Hurricane Club... consistent with those provided to others at his membership level" and that he had no special access.
. Hocutt replaced the retiring Gerald Myers
, who served as athletic director for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
since 1996. In his first month as athletic director, Hocutt hired Billy Gillispie
to be the men's basketball coach. Former coach Pat Knight
was fired before Hocutt took over as AD.
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. Hocutt formerly held the same position at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
from 2005–2008 and the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
from 2008–2011.
Early years
Kirby Hocutt earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State UniversityKansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in 1995, where he was a four-year letterman at the linebacker position. While playing for the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
, Hocutt earned all-conference team honors as a junior, and served as a team captain in his senior season. In 1993, The Sporting News selected him as one of the top 20 underrated players in the nation. Hocutt earned his Master of Education degree
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 2001.
Career
From 1999–2005, Hocutt was previously at the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
and most recently served as associate athletics director for external operations and sports administration. Prior to joining the Oklahoma staff, Hocutt served as the coordinator of licensing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA). He began his career in sports administration as the assistant director of marketing and promotions at his alma mater, Kansas State University.
Ohio
In 2005, Hocutt was hired as athletic directorAthletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in Athens, Ohio
Athens, Ohio
Athens is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Athens County, Ohio, United States. It is located along the Hocking River in the southeastern part of Ohio. A historic college town, Athens is home to Ohio University and is the principal city of the Athens, Ohio Micropolitan Statistical Area. ...
. On January 25, 2007, Hocutt announced the elimination of four varsity sports. Those sports include: men's swimming and diving, men's indoor track, men's outdoor track and women's lacrosse. The decision was announced without any advance warning to the student athletes involved causing major tension between the student body and the administration. The Ohio Bobcats athletic department
Ohio Bobcats
Ohio University features 16 varsity sports teams called the Bobcats. The Bobcats compete in the Mid-American Conference in all sports. The Bobcats were a charter member of the Mid-American Conference in 1946 and are the only team still in the conference from the original 5 team league that...
later revealed that the money saved would be used to strategically reinvest in revenue sports. Less than a thirteen months later, in 2008, Hocutt left Ohio University for the same position at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
.
Miami (FL)
Hocutt was introduced as the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
's 11th Director of Athletics on Feb. 8, 2008 and began his tenure on June 1, 2008. While Director of Athletics for the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
, Hocutt oversaw $26 million in new projects, including the construction of a basketball practice facility, as well as upgrades to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field, the Neil Schiff Tennis Center and Cobb Stadium
Cobb Stadium
Cobb Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida. The stadium is home to the women's soccer and men's and women's track and field teams. The stadium was dedicated in 1999. It is named after former UM Chairman of the Board, Charles...
, home to the Hurricanes women's soccer and track and field teams. He was succeeded by former Wisconsin Assistant Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst.
In August 2011, The Associated Press reported that the NCAA is investigating Hocutt's relationship with Ponzi scheme
Ponzi scheme
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation that pays returns to its investors from their own money or the money paid by subsequent investors, rather than from any actual profit earned by the individual or organization running the operation...
r Nevin Shapiro
Nevin Shapiro
Nevin Shapiro is a former University of Miami football booster who is currently imprisoned for orchestrating a $930 million Ponzi scheme. According to interviews, he engaged in rampant violations of NCAA rules over eight years as a booster for University of Miami athletes...
after Shapiro said that he made contributions to football players in violation of NCAA policies. Hocutt was said to permit Shapiro access to the sideline before football games at times during the 2008 season. Hocutt responded saying, "Shapiro was treated like other members of the Hurricane Club... consistent with those provided to others at his membership level" and that he had no special access.
Texas Tech
On February 26, 2011, Hocutt resigned as Director of Athletics from the University of Miami for the same position at Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
. Hocutt replaced the retiring Gerald Myers
Gerald Myers
Gerald Myers is an American former college basketball coach. He was the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team and the Houston Baptist Huskies men's basketball team....
, who served as athletic director for the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
since 1996. In his first month as athletic director, Hocutt hired Billy Gillispie
Billy Gillispie
Billy Clyde Gillispie , also known by his initials BCG, is an American college basketball coach. Since 2011, he has been the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Texas Tech University...
to be the men's basketball coach. Former coach Pat Knight
Pat Knight
Patrick "Pat" Knight is an American college basketball coach for Lamar University. He became the coach of the Lamar Cardinals basketball team on April 5, 2011. He was previously the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team until March 7, 2011...
was fired before Hocutt took over as AD.