Pitt Director of Athletics Heather Lyke Fired on Week of Backyard Brawl

Pitt has relieved Director of Athletics Heather Lyke from her duties, the University announced Monday morning in a statement. Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported.

Lyke was hired as the Director of Athletics in 2017 and signed an extension in 2019. Her contract was set to expire later this year, but Pitt has decided to enter a new era of college athletics with a new voice as soon as possible.

“Today, I informed University of Pittsburgh director of athletics, Heather Lyke, that I was making a change in the leadership of our athletics program,” Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement.

“Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program through a unique period in college athletics and we thank her for her leadership during that time. Her tenure included successes from football’s first ACC championship to volleyball reaching its first-ever NCAA Final Four, while representing the University at the conference and national level.

“However, as we enter a new era in college athletics, one that seems to change by the day, we need a new vision and a leader of our athletic department. On behalf of all Panthers, we wish Heather and her family the best with appreciation for their service to Pitt.”

Lyke has done a lot of great things for Pitt; she’s a good athletic director. But there’s a reason for the dismissal. For all the good she’s done (the Victory Heights project, coaching stability in the revenue-generating sports and a revitalization of the Olympic sports), Pitt is woefully behind in the NIL game. And the athletic department is in the red.

The NACDA awarded her the 2023 Cushman & Wakefield AD of the Year, and she was a finalist for the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year award. In 2022-23 alone, Pitt hit its highest points total in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup and football, men’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer and wrestling all experienced high levels of success.

Pitt will conduct a “national and comprehensive search” to find Lyke’s replacement, and Executive Associate Athletic Director Jennifer Tuscano will serve as the interim director.