It appears TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte is jumping on I-35 and heading down to a new job in Austin.
Del Conte has been hired to assume the same position at the University of Texas and will start work on Monday. According to USA Today’s salary database, Del Conte earned just under $700,000 with TCU. He’ll likely receive a deal worth more than $1 million annually at Texas.
Del Conte will replace Mike Perrin, who took over on an interim basis in 2015 after Steve Patterson was fired.
Under his leaders, Del Conte helped raise the athletic program to new heights at TCU after taking over in 2009. The school joined the Big 12, the football team won a Rose Bowl and played Oklahoma this season in the Big 12 championship game and the baseball team has reached the College World Series the last three seasons. The construction of the new Amon G. Carter stadium is among the sports facility upgrades that took place under Del Conte’s watch.
“It has been an honor and pleasure to work for Texas Christian University for the last nine years, and I am indebted to every Horned Frog for allowing me to serve you,” Del Conte said in a statement. “My family and I have enjoyed every moment of being part of this wonderful campus and the Fort Worth community. Unquestionably, our experiences here will forever hold a special place in our hearts.”
It should also be noted that Del Conte and current Longhorns head football coach Tom Herman worked together at Rice.
A news conference is planned on Monday in Austin.
