Hyman agrees to talk to Tennessee official
Athletic director still says he isn’t up for job
By Braden Howell
Staff Reporter

Athletic Director Eric Hyman acknowledged Wednesday he was contacted by and has agreed to talk with a representative from the University of Tennessee.

Hyman said he knows the Knoxville News Sentinel has reported him to be one of two finalists for Tennessee’s athletic director position, but would not comment on what he expects the conversation to be about or when it will take place. But Tennessee President

John Shumaker has set April 30 as the target date for naming a new athletic director. Shumaker could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Hyman said a Tennessee representative contacted him within the past week. Previously, Hyman said his only involvement with the search was a brief conversation he had six or seven weeks ago with a head-hunter.

However, Hyman said, he does not consider himself a candidate for the job.

“I just finished refinancing my house,” Hyman said. “Would I have done that if I thought I was a candidate?”

Hyman said having a big school like Tennessee interested in talking with someone from TCU is flattering, and a tribute to the success of the athletic department.

In several articles in last week’s Knoxville News Sentinel, Hyman was reported to be a finalist, along with current Tennessee Associate Athletic Director Mike Hamilton, to succeed current Athletic Director Doug Dickey who is retiring in June.

Dickey said Tuesday that he is not involved with the search for his replacement, and would not comment on who the possible candidates are or who he would like to see succeed him. But a Knoxville News Sentinel story from this week cites sources saying Dickey supports Hamilton. Tennessee search committee members could not be reached for comment.

Tennessee officials hired the search firm Heidrick and Struggles to identify top candidates for them. Eric Sodorff, communications manager for Heidrick and Struggles, would not comment on the firm’s involvement with the search.

“We work with the client to figure out what their needs are, then we provide them with a slate of qualified, interested individuals,” Sodorff said. “We then do interviews and referencing from prospects previous jobs, then we turn it over to the university.”

Hyman said he has not been contacted by anyone from Heidrick and Struggles.

Hyman was hired as TCU athletic director Dec. 8, 1997. Since his arrival, Hyman has worked on improving athletic facilities and elevating TCU athletics to a nationally prominent level.

During Hyman’s tenure, he has overseen the fund raising for the construction of the Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium, the Lowden Track and Field Complex, the John J. Justin Athletic Center and, the Lupton Baseball Stadium.

Hyman also helped orchestrate TCU’s invitation to join Conference USA.

b.r.howell@tcu.edu