Rick Chryst
Encyclopedia
Richard "Rick" Chryst is a former commissioner of the Mid-American Conference
(MAC) from 1999 to 2009.
at the University of Notre Dame
from 1979–1983. He earned a BA in economics
in 1983.
In 1983, after graduating from Notre Dame, Chryst was hired as the assistant sports information director at the United States Naval Academy
. He then attended Duke University
, where he earned a Juris Doctor with Honors from Duke University School of Law
in 1989. Later that year, Chryst worked in the administration of the Southwest Conference until it dissolved in 1996. He then became the assistant commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference
.
as commissioner of the MAC. As commissioner, Chryst made an effort to put the conference and its teams in the national spotlight. He signed a TV contract with ESPN
to air MAC football games nationally. He was able to do this by playing games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which are uncommon nights for football. He also moved the football championship game to Ford Field
in Detroit
, and the basketball tournament to Quicken Loans Arena
in Cleveland
. Both were formerly played at MAC school stadiums/arenas. Chryst departed his post at the completion of his contract on June 30, 2009, in order to pursue other opportunities.
offensive coordinator Paul Chryst
and San Francisco 49ers
quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst
.
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
(MAC) from 1999 to 2009.
College and early career
Chryst attended and played baseballCollege baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
from 1979–1983. He earned a BA in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1983.
In 1983, after graduating from Notre Dame, Chryst was hired as the assistant sports information director at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. He then attended Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, where he earned a Juris Doctor with Honors from Duke University School of Law
Duke University School of Law
The Duke University School of Law is the law school and a constituent academic unit of Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States. One of Duke's 10 schools and colleges, the School of Law began as the Trinity College School of Law in 1868. In 1924, following the renaming of Trinity...
in 1989. Later that year, Chryst worked in the administration of the Southwest Conference until it dissolved in 1996. He then became the assistant commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
.
Mid-American Conference
On May 11, 1999, Chryst replaced Jerry IppolitiJerry Ippoliti
Jerry Ippoliti is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the Northern Illinois University from 1971 until 1975. Ippoliti was also the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference from 1994 to 1999.-External links:...
as commissioner of the MAC. As commissioner, Chryst made an effort to put the conference and its teams in the national spotlight. He signed a TV contract with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
to air MAC football games nationally. He was able to do this by playing games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which are uncommon nights for football. He also moved the football championship game to Ford Field
Ford Field
Ford Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and the basketball tournament to Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Both were formerly played at MAC school stadiums/arenas. Chryst departed his post at the completion of his contract on June 30, 2009, in order to pursue other opportunities.
Personal
He is the brother of Wisconsin BadgersWisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
offensive coordinator Paul Chryst
Paul Chryst
Paul Chryst is an American football coach. He is currently serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the University of Wisconsin football team.-Background:...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst
Geep Chryst
Geep Chryst is the quarterbacks coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League.-Career:Chryst played at the linebacker position at Princeton University, where he also played on the baseball team. He first became a coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1987. While...
.