The university released an official statement on Wednesday.
TCU has hired former Army AD Mike Buddie to serve as the university’s next athletic director. Buddie has worked for the United States Military Academy since 2019 and replaces Jeremiah Donati, who departed last month to become the next athletic director at South Carolina. Buddie becomes the ninth athletic director in TCU history, according to an official press release published by the university on Wednesday. Below is a quote from Buddie that was included in the press released issued by TCU earlier this week.
Donati had served as TCU’s athletic director since 2017, when he rose from his position as deputy athletic director and replaced Chris Del Conte. Under Donati, TCU hired and extended head football coach Sonny Dykes in addition to promoting Kirk Saarloos to head baseball coach and hiring head women’s basketball coach Mark Campbell. Donati also led a department that extended head men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon and hired head volleyball coach Jason Williams, who received an extension prior to Donati’s departure. Below is a quote from the university’s press release, this time from President Daniel Pullin.
Buddie oversaw an Army football program that enjoyed a successful 2024 season, with the Black Knights finishing 12-2 overall and winning the American Athletic Conference. Army went unbeaten in conference play and concluded its first 12-win season ever with a 27-6 victory against Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl. It was the first season of AAC play for Army, who moved into the conference for football after previously being independent. Prior to his service at Army, Buddie was the athletic director at Furman and worked in the athletic department at his alma mater, Wake Forest, before taking on his first AD job.