Eddie Nunez Chosen as the New Athletic Director for the University of Houston UH Leadership Makes Its Final Decision
Eddie Nunez has been selected as the new athletic director for the University of Houston, with the final decision made by the university’s leadership on Saturday, according to a source close to the situation. Nunez, who has a successful track record as an athletic director at New Mexico, where he demonstrated significant fundraising capabilities, was chosen over Ryan Alpert, the innovative chief revenue officer at the University of Tennessee.
An official announcement regarding Nunez’s appointment is expected soon, possibly later today. The decision was reportedly challenging, with University of Houston chancellor Renu Khator and Board of Regents chairman Tilman Fertitta highly impressed by both candidates.
Nunez’s history of developing a successful athletic program at New Mexico, where he achieved notable victories in various sports, combined with his extensive experience (14 years) at Power 5 SEC institution LSU, played a crucial role in his selection. A former basketball player at the University of Florida under Billy Donovan, Nunez has also established a rapport with UH basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, although this connection has not been independently verified.
When Nunez first assumed the athletic director role at the University of New Mexico seven years ago, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey recognized him as a promising talent in the field. Now, Nunez steps into leadership of a Power 5 program in the nation’s fourth-largest city.
Throughout his tenure at New Mexico, Nunez fostered a winning culture across various sports, including significant accomplishments in women’s athletics, highlighted by a national championship in women’s cross country, 22 conference titles, and 53 NCAA Tournament appearances. He also exhibited strong fundraising abilities, contributing to $400 million in facility upgrades and construction projects at LSU, as well as negotiating a 10-year multimedia rights agreement with Outfront Media Sports for LSU athletics.
Having begun his career in athletics administration at Vanderbilt University, Nunez now steps into the role of athletic director at the University of Houston, which is seeking a fresh direction as it aims to compete effectively in the Big 12. He takes the helm of one of the nation’s top men’s basketball programs, led by Kelvin Sampson, with Kellen Sampson positioned as the likely successor. Additionally, he has Willie Fritz, the new football coach, who is generating excitement around a program in need of significant rebuilding.Nunez’s primary challenge will be to find strategies to bridge the financial gap between University of Houston athletics and its Big 12 rivals.
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