Rick Hart, from TN-Chattanooga. Son of former Florida State AD Dave Hart.

http://www.wdef.com/content/sports/local...hKX_w.cspx

Is this good or bad? Never heard of the guy.

(07-13-2012 05:55 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  Dave Hart, from TN-Chattanooga.

http://www.wdef.com/content/sports/local...hKX_w.cspx

Believe his name is Rick Hart, not Dave.

(07-13-2012 06:00 PM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(07-13-2012 05:55 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  Dave Hart, from TN-Chattanooga.

http://www.wdef.com/content/sports/local...hKX_w.cspx

Believe his name is Rick Hart, not Dave.

Dave Hart is the ex-FSU AD now at Tennessee I think.

Three positives noted from that article.

#1: Worked at Oklahoma.
#2: Conference championships.
#3: Improved academic scores.

So far, good I guess.

Was a great AD at East Carolina.

Involved w marketing at OU.

SMU hasn't focused on marketing.......yet

Woah, it's always crazy when I catch SMU news on a board like this rather than PonyPride.com or PonyFans.com. I know nothing of this man, time to educate myself!

Any history of fundraising?

SMU just hit a home run. Rick Hart is Dave's son. When he arrived at Chattanooga after Steve Sloan retired, UT-C was averaging about 3,000 fans a game for football. Under his leadership they more than doubled it.
Academically, he hired a lady a few years back who has since resigned to take care of her mother but he brought her in to clean house, kick tail and get people eligible and on track. She did that. Everything Rick put his hands on improved, football attendance went up, interest went up, their win totals went up. The only thing he's seen struggle in his time there is basketball, and UT-C just doesn't have the money to fire John Shulman.
He took an athletic department that was truly a dumpster fire, and systematically cleaned it up and has left UT-C in much better shape than what he found it in.
He'll do well at SMU, I really figured he would stay at UT-C, continue to improve athletics, then when dear ol' daddy retired up in Knoxville they'd just ease Rick right on in.
I still wouldn't be shocked to see him wind back up in Knoxville one day, especially if he accomplishes at SMU what he did at UT-C.

Is it Rick or Dave Hart?

(07-13-2012 11:17 PM)Ned Low Wrote:  Is it Rick or Dave Hart?

...the article clearly says "Rick Hart".

Sounds like a great hire. I regard SMU as one of the Big East's most valuable assets. Very proud to be associated with a school having such rich tradition, academic excellence and great potential.

It's Rick. Dave is his father and no, there wasn't any nepotism involved in Rick Hart getting the Chattanooga job.
Again, UT-C was a two win team in football with academic issues in all sports. He brought in a ball buster for academics to clean it up (and she did, quick), a new football coach, and a sense of renewed pride down there.
Wins went up, attendance went up, graduation rates went up. The only thing that has been suffering there has been basketball and UT-C just doesn't have the extra money to fire Shulman, yet...

Good hire and has a ton of connections.