The man who has served as the Arizona Wildcats' athletic director since 2010 is headed back to the SEC.
On Monday morning, The University of Alabama confirmed what the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson reported Sunday: UA athletic director Greg Byrne will be the next AD at Alabama. He will begin duties March 1, pending approval by the Alabama System Board of Trustees.
Help us welcome Greg and Regina Byrne to the Crimson Tide family! Roll Tide! https://t.co/g79IzfEMCk
— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) January 16, 2017
Byrne will replace Alabama's current AD, Bill Battle, who is expected to retire for health reasons, according to the Star.
The 45-year-old Byrne hired Rich Rodriguez as UA's football coach after the 2011 season. He also hired first-year women's basketball coach Adia Barnes, along with baseball coach Jay Johnson, who led the Wildcats to the College World Series national championship game in 2016, his first season in Tucson.
Byrne was previously the AD at Mississippi State from 2008-10. UA's athletic department budget has grown from $45 million to $80 million under Byrne, according to the Star.
USA TODAY's Dan Wolken reported Byrne has already reached out to potential candidates to replace him at Arizona.
Greg Byrne will forfeit Arizona's $2.2 million retention bonus to be paid in 2020. Such is the bank at 'Bama.
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) January 16, 2017
But Byrne will get $500K bonus for staying through 2016
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) January 16, 2017
UA senior associate athletic director Erika Hanson Barnes has been named the Wildcats' interim athletic director. Barnes played for the Arizona softball team that won the 2001 national championship.
@AZATHLETICS makes it official. Erika Hanson Barnes named interim AD. pic.twitter.com/4Fi0KYFqcY
— Erica Weston (@EricaLWeston) January 16, 2017
Interim AD Erika Barnes addresses the media and talks about Greg Byrne's mark on @AZATHLETICS. pic.twitter.com/wlQ7yXGZPZ
— Daily Wildcat Sports (@WildcatSports) January 16, 2017
