Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson will retire in May 2016, he announced Friday. Dickson has held the position since 2000, including during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which "nearly destroyed the university's athletics facilities," the school said in a release.
With Dickson at the helm, Tulane teams won 41 Conference USA titles and reached NCAA postseason play 36 times. He also guided the Green Wave’s transition from C-USA to the American Athletic Conference and oversaw the opening of Yulman Stadium for the football program.
“Rick has the devotion, respect and love of the Tulane University community,” Tulane President Mike Fitts said. “Among his many achievements is bringing Green Wave athletics back from the evacuation of 300 student-athletes and the subsequent shutdown of several programs in 2005, to a full complement of 16 teams in 2007.
"Rick has been a tremendous resource to me as a new president and has helped me understand the complex issues surrounding intercollegiate athletics. I will miss him.”
Before his time at Tulane, Dickson served as athletic director at Washington State from 1994 to 2000 and spent six years as AD at Tulsa, his alma mater.
“When I look back on my 29 years in this business, my fondest memories are those I made at Tulane,” Dickson said. “I am most proud of what this program has done to transform the lives of so many of the young men and women who have worn a Green Wave uniform during my time here. I will miss them, my staff and coaches the most.”
For more Tulane news, visit TheWaveReport.com.
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