Bill Byrne
Encyclopedia
Clarence William "Bill" Byrne, II is the current athletic director
of Texas A&M University
, a position he has held since January 2003.
. He attended Idaho State University
, where he served as student body president and received a bachelor's degree in business in 1967. He went on to receive his MBA
in 1971. From 1971–76, he served as the director of alumni relations at Idaho State. He then moved to the University of New Mexico
, where he would serve as the executive director of the New Mexico Lobo Club, the division within the athletic department responsible for raising athletic scholarships, from 1976–79. From 1980–82, he was the assistant athletic director at San Diego State University
.
. At Oregon, he led a $19 million fundraiser that helped to build new buildings for the football team and athletic offices. For his role in the fundraiser, he was named National Fundraiser of the Year by the National Athletic Fundraisers Association in 1985. He served as the athletic director at Nebraska
for 11 years from 1992-2003. His teams won 8 national championships and 82 Big Eight
and Big 12 Conference
championships. His athletic program compiled seven straight top 25 finishes in the standings of the NACDA Director's Cup
. He resigned from Nebraska on December 2, 2002 to take over as athletic director at Texas A&M
. Byrne's youngest son Greg Byrne
is the current athletics director at the University of Arizona
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
of Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, a position he has held since January 2003.
Early life
Byrne grew up in IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. He attended Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
, where he served as student body president and received a bachelor's degree in business in 1967. He went on to receive his MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
in 1971. From 1971–76, he served as the director of alumni relations at Idaho State. He then moved to the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, where he would serve as the executive director of the New Mexico Lobo Club, the division within the athletic department responsible for raising athletic scholarships, from 1976–79. From 1980–82, he was the assistant athletic director at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
.
Athletic director career
Byrne started his head athletic directing career in 1984 at the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. At Oregon, he led a $19 million fundraiser that helped to build new buildings for the football team and athletic offices. For his role in the fundraiser, he was named National Fundraiser of the Year by the National Athletic Fundraisers Association in 1985. He served as the athletic director at Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
for 11 years from 1992-2003. His teams won 8 national championships and 82 Big Eight
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
and Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
championships. His athletic program compiled seven straight top 25 finishes in the standings of the NACDA Director's Cup
NACDA Director's Cup
The NACDA Learfield Sports Directors' Cup is an award given annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the colleges and universities with the most success in collegiate athletics...
. He resigned from Nebraska on December 2, 2002 to take over as athletic director at Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. Byrne's youngest son Greg Byrne
Gregory Byrne
Greg Byrne is the athletic director at the University of Arizona. Prior to this appointment, Byrne was the athletic director at Mississippi State University from 2008-2010 after serving as associate athletic director for the preceding two years...
is the current athletics director at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
Previous Employment
- 1971-1976 Idaho State UniversityIdaho State UniversityIdaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
, Pocatello, ID - 1976-1979 University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, Albuquerque, NM - 1980-1982 San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, San Diego, CA - 1983-1992 University of OregonUniversity of Oregon-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Eugene, OR - 1992-2002 University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- 2002–present Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, College Station, TX
Honors
- 2007 Carl Maddox Sports Management Award
- 2005 Professional Achievement Award presented by the Idaho State UniversityIdaho State UniversityIdaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
Alumni Association - 2002 John L. Toner Award winner
- 1999 Central Region National Association of Collegiate Directors of AthleticsNational Association of Collegiate Directors of AthleticsThe National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics is a professional organization for college and university athletic directors in the United States. NACDA boasts a membership of more than 6,100 individuals and more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico...
(NACDA) Director of the Year - 1991-92 President of NACDA
- 1985 National Athletic Fundraisers Association Fundraiser of the Year.