Director of Athletics Heather Lyke OUT at Pitt

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke is out.

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Chancellor Joan Gabel released a statement saying she told Lyke she was "making a change in the leadership" of Pitt's athletics program.

Lyke was hired to replace Scott Barnes in 2017 after five years as Eastern Michigan’s athletic director.

Lyke was recently one of three finalists for Northwestern's athletic director position.

It was a period of transition for Pitt athletics when Lyke was hired in March of 2017. Two of the previous three athletic directors left for other jobs and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said they had to end all of the turnover at the position.

Lyke ended up at Pitt for seven-and-a-half years with likely the highlight being the ACC Championship in football with Kenny Pickett on the Heisman stage and Jordan Addison winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award. Several other notable achievements for Lyke after coming to Pitt from Eastern Michigan.

·        Firing head basketball coach Kevin Stallings after two seasons and getting Duke’s top assistant, Jeff Capel who would eventually lead the Panthers from winless in the ACC to the NCAA Tournament

·        Several upgrades to the Petersen Events Center and football facilities including new locker rooms, weight rooms and more

·        Victory Heights is currently under construction including a new home for the volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling programs. Also included is a separate building to include a new indoor track and band area and a new student recreation facility

·        She hired women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum who led the program to the Elite 8 in 2023

·        Signed contract extensions with Capel, football coach Pat Narduzzi and volleyball coach Dan Fisher

·        Pitt volleyball has gone to three consecutive Final Fours

·        Upgraded the Peterson Sports Complex including a new floor adding locker room, meeting and office space for baseball, softball and soccer

·        Added a women’s lacrosse program

·        Hiring wrestling coach Keith Gavin

There have been misses as well

·        She has hired and fired softball, women’s basketball and gymnastics coaches

·        Oversaw only three football seasons with at least eight wins, three seasons with six wins or fewer

·        For some alumni, not working towards building an on-campus football stadium