Justin Moore, who was earlier this year let go by Texas A&M athletics from his role as an executive deputy athletic director and chief operating officer, has been hired as the new Tulsa athletic director, the school announced on Tuesday.
Moore begins his duties in early July. He is replacing the outgoing Rick Dickson, who retired after a long tenure in athletic administration.
“I am excited to join The University of Tulsa,” Moore said in a release announcing his hire. “The Golden Hurricane has a rich athletics history with competitive teams and bright student-athletes, and I believe in the direction of the university under President Carson’s leadership. I am eager to build relationships with so many great people – the coaching and administrative staffs, donors and fans, student-athletes and alumni and the Tulsa community – and get to work advancing this amazing program.”
Tulsa president Brad Carson also commended Moore in the release.
“Building upon the foundation that Rick Dickson has laid, Justin Moore is the right person to take The University of Tulsa into the next generation of college sports,” Carson said. “Justin is extremely well respected among his peers. ADs from Ohio State and LSU personally reached out to affirm that he is one of the most talented administrators in college sports today. Perhaps more importantly, faculty from Texas A&M praised Moore for his work with student-athletes.”
Moore was part of a staff downsizing in College Station
Texas A&M athletics laid off a number of high-level administrators and staffers, athletic director Trev Alberts confirmed to TheBryan-College Station Eagle in April. He made clear the cuts are not related to paying the immense buyout for former head football coach Jimbo Fisher.
The downsizing resulted in a number of longtime employees being cut from the department roster. They include executive deputy athletics director and COO Justin Moore, deputy athletics director for external relations and business development Chris Park, associate athletics director, branding, creative and communications Tyler Pigg and associate athletics director for equipment and apparel Matt Watson, according to The Eagle.
Watson confirmed to The Eagle that he will be able to draw an early retirement after 34 years in the Texas A&M equipment room.
All told, the staff cuts will include more than a dozen employees, according to The Eagle.
Albert addressed the department downsizing in a statement to The Eagle, saying it was a “reorganization related to existing and emerging threats to our business model.” He made clear the people who were being laid off hadn’t erred or been chosen for performance-related reasons.
“We are on the cusp of unprecedented change in the world of intercollegiate athletics,” Alberts said in his statement to The Eagle. “As a department, we have to adapt and become more efficient and effective so that we are best positioned for the changes to come. However, what will not change is this: student-athletes are our priority and making sure their experience at Texas A&M is second to none is our goal.
“This morning, we met with several individuals to inform them that, in light of the upcoming changes to our administrative structure, they will not be employees of the athletics department in the future. These changes are difficult and let me state emphatically, these people have done nothing wrong. These are good, hard-working members of the Aggie family and their service is greatly appreciated. I can assure you, this was not personal, it was a business decision, and a very difficult one at that.”
The post Former Texas A&M deputy AD Justin Moore hired as Tulsa athletic director appeared first on On3.