Pitt Names Allen Greene New Athletic Director

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

The University of Pittsburgh announced the hiring of Allen Greene as the new Athletic Director. Greene, who has served as Senior Deputy Athletics Director at the University of Tennessee, will begin his tenure with Pitt on Nov. 1.

He replaces former Athletic Director Heather Lyke, who was relieved of her duties by Pitt on Sept. 9.

Greene is excited to get started in his new position.

“I am tremendously grateful and honored to receive the opportunity from Chancellor Gabel to join the University of Pittsburgh, an institution and athletic tradition I’ve long admired. It was apparent from my very first conversation with Chancellor Gabel that Pitt has the highest of aspirations in every endeavor it undertakes. That’s tremendously energizing to me and a challenge I fully embrace. I am inspired by the storied history of Pitt Athletics and am fully dedicated to helping our Panthers reach even greater heights in the future. I am looking forward to meeting and working on behalf of Pitt’s student-athletes, coaches, staff and campus leaders. The Greene family is incredibly thankful and excited to proudly wear Pitt’s blue and gold.”

Allen Greene, Pitt AD, Oct. 18

A Notre Dame alum, Greene spent 2023 in Tennessee as the Volunteeers' deputy athletics director, focusing on name, image and likeness (NIL) programs. The Tennessee athletic department saw an increase of 30 percent in revenue during Greene’s time in Knoxville. He will split time between Pitt and Tennessee until any current obligations to Tennessee are fulfilled.

Allen Greene Background

Before Tennessee hired him, Greene was the Senior Deputy Athletics Director for the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss Greene handled external relations and business development.

Before that, Greene was the Athletic Director for Auburn University from 2018-2022. During that time, Auburn athletic programs won eight SEC championships and had 47 programs with Top 25 finishes.

The Auburn men’s basketball program achieved its first-ever No. 1 ranking in the 2021-2022 season. The men’s basketball program also reached the NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time in program history.

Blessings of Colleagues

Auburn hoops coach Coach Bruce Pearl voiced his approval of Pitt's decision to hire Greene.

“Congrats to my friend Allen on this next chapter of what has already been a successful career,” Pearl said. “I went to work every day at Auburn trying to reward my boss, Allen, for the confidence he showed and the support he provided. He’s a loyal and engaged leader with an unwavering commitment to excellence. I couldn’t be happier for the Pitt community because they landed a five-star human being!”

During Greene’s time at Auburn, the baseball team advanced to the College World Series for the first time in 22 years, and the Auburn athletic programs had a combined grade-point average of 3.25.

Greene has a good track record of fundraising as well. Auburn constructed a $92 million football facility, the Woltosz Football Performance Center, through four of the largest donations in school history.

© John Reed-Imagn Images

Before Auburn hired him, Greene served as Athletic Director for the University of Buffalo from 2015-2018. During his tenure, the Buffalo athletic programs enjoyed success in both the classroom and on the court/field. In 2016, both the Buffalo men’s and women’s basketball teams achieved something not seen in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since 2002: They both won MAC championships, earning automatic NCAA Tournament bids.

The 2017-18 men’s basketball team finished the season with a 27-9 record and recorded the first NCAA Tournament win, upsetting Pac-12 champ Arizona.

During his tenure at Buffalo, the football program earned the highest grade-point average in team history. The athletic department earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better for 11 straight semesters. On the financial side for Buffalo, Greene negotiated the athletic department’s first multimedia rights agreement.

Along with Pearl, other members of the collegiate athletic community have publicly supported Pitt’s hiring of Greene.

University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel said, “Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world. In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader who exemplifies the Pitt way, and who has all of the experience and intangibles to elevate our athletics program in competition and in the classroom. In my conversations with Allen and with many others who know him well, it is clear that he will lead us successfully into the new world of intercollegiate athletics.”

Greene’s former boss, Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, Danny White said, “Congratulations to the University of Pittsburgh and Chancellor Gabel on a home run hire! Allen is one of the most innovative, genuine and competitive leaders we have in college athletics. We are sad to lose Allen and his family on Rocky Top, but look forward to seeing their transformative impact at Pitt!”

Greene's NIL experience and successful academic track record are likely the top reasons he is Pitt's new AD. Pitt holds academic excellence in the highest regard, and it is clear Greene does as well. But athletic success, specifically with the football and basketball programs, is where athletic directors are measured. Given Greene’s history, Pitt is in good hands, both academically and athletically.