Alabama’s athletic director, Greg Byrne, confirms to 247Sports that he has no intention of departing from Alabama, putting an end to speculation regarding his potential interest in Texas A&M.
Alabama’s athletic director, Greg Byrne, is puzzled by rumors linking him to the same position at Texas A&M, stating that he lacks representation by an agent and hasn’t actively pursued candidacy for the role. Uncertain of the rumor’s origins, Byrne addressed the speculation surrounding his employment status during an interview with 247Sports on Wednesday, aiming to quell any further speculation.
“Clearly, I’m aware of the ties due to my father’s tenure as the AD there,” Byrne stated. “My parents still reside in the area. However, I have no desire to hold the AD position anywhere other than at Alabama.”
Byrne arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2017 following roles at Mississippi State (2008-10) and Arizona (2010-17).
His father, Bill, had a distinguished career as a college administrator, notably serving as athletic director at Oregon, Nebraska, and Texas A&M.
At 52 years old, Byrne recently concluded the most significant hire of his career, overseeing the replacement of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who retired in January after 17 seasons and six national championships with the Crimson Tide.
Byrne wasted no time in selecting a successor to the esteemed coach. Within 49 hours of Saban’s departure, Byrne traveled to Washington and secured former Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer.
DeBoer inherited a struggling 4-8 program at Washington and orchestrated an impressive turnaround, compiling a remarkable 25-3 record over two seasons. His tenure included a playoff semifinal victory and a berth in the championship game. In recognition of his outstanding performance in 2023, DeBoer was honored with five national Coach of the Year awards.
Prior to his time at Washington, DeBoer served as head coach at Fresno State and Sioux Falls, where he competed in the NAIA.
His cumulative coaching tally stands at an impressive 104 victories against just 12 defeats.
In January, Ross Bjork departed from his role with the Aggies to assume the position of Athletic Director at Ohio State, thus creating a highly sought-after opening at one of the nation’s most well-endowed athletic programs.
SEC enthusiasts will likely recognize Bjork, given his past tenure as the athletic director at Ole Miss from 2012 to 2019.
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