Theo Bellmont 1913- 1929

• 1908 Baseball Manager

• Organized the building of Clark Field and Penick Tennis courts

• 1913-1923 promoted to director of athletics and professor of physical training. He promptly took the management of sports away from the students, looked for formidable opponents to draw large gates; originated the student “blanket tax” to fund the athletic program; conceived and presided over the formation of the SWC to principally standardize eligibility requirements among UT opponents; resumed contests with Texas A & M; formed the T-Association’; started an intramural sports program; constructed a building to house basketball from the inclement weather; oversaw the building of Memorial Stadium, and the building of Clark Field for Longhorn baseball.

• 1923- Instrumental in raising $500,000 to build Texas-Memorial Stadium

• 1927 – Organized the Texas Relays with Coach Littlefield

• 1957 HOH inductee

December 1928- September 1, 1930 Dr. H.J. Ettlinger

Ettlinger, H. J. (Hyman Joseph), 1889- the career of Hyman Joseph Ettlinger (1889-1986) from his doctoral studies at Harvard University (1910-1913) through his career at the University of Texas at Austin.

W. E. Metzenthin (1930–1935)

Metzenthin took over as the chairman of the Athletic Council and assumed the titular duties of athletic director. Ed Olle who Ettlinge brought in was hired as business manager of athletics in 1929 . From 1930 through 1937 the job of A.D. was chaotic.

John Edward “Jack” Chevigny 1935-1937 Pending more Info.

Jack Chevigny history is covered in the “football” section on the TLSN website.

Dana X. Bible – 1937-1956 Pending

Dana Bible’s history is covered in the “football” section on the TLSN site.

Ed Olle 1957-1962  Pending

Olle, in two years, earned six letters. Two each in football, basketball, and baseball. He was the first winner of the Norris Trophy, which honored the best athlete at Texas.

Coach of 1933 conference basketball champions

Ed Olle played for Texas Longhorns men’s basketball head coach E. J. “Doc” Stewart and Texas baseball head coach William J. “Billy” Disch. He received all-Southwest Conference honors in baseball in 1926 and 1927.

Ed joined UT administration in 1929 as the business manager for intercollegiate athletics and secretary to the Athletic Council. Familiar with the fundamentals of all sports, and an authority on the rules of football and basketball, Olle coached the Longhorns in basketball (unpaid) for three seasons (1931–34) following the departure of “Mysterious” Fred Walker in 1931. His first year, the basketball team record was 19-1. Olle’s 1932–33 team finished the season as Southwest Conference champions with a 22–1 record. Decades later, this team received recognition as that season’s national champion in the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. (The team playing as it did in an era preceding the existence of national basketball tournaments or polling).

After three seasons as head coach, Olle resigned and moved into a position in the UT Athletics Department, first under Texas football head coach and Athletics Director Jack Chevigny, and later under football coach and Athletics Director Dana X. Bible

In 1956 Ed Ollie was hired as UT Athletics Director and remained in that position until 1962.

Ed Olle played for Texas Longhorns men’s basketball head coach E. J. “Doc” Stewart and Texas baseball head coach William J. “Billy” Disch. He received all-Southwest Conference honors in baseball in 1926 and 1927.

d joined UT administration in 1929 as the business manager for intercollegiate athletics and secretary to the Athletic Council. Familiar with the fundamentals of all sports, and an authority on the rules of football and basketball, Olle coached the Longhorns in basketball (unpaid) for three seasons (1931–34) following the departure of “Mysterious” Fred Walker in 1931. His first year, the basketball team record was 19-1. Olle’s 1932–33 team finished the season as Southwest Conference champions with a 22–1 record. Decades later, this team received recognition as that season’s national champion in the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. (The team playing as it did in an era preceding the existence of national basketball tournaments or polling).

After three seasons as head coach, Olle resigned and moved into a position in the UT Athletics Department, first under Texas football head coach and Athletics Director Jack Chevigny, and later under football coach and Athletics Director Dana X. Bible

In 1956 Ed Ollie was hired as UT Athletics Director and remained in that position until 1962.

Here are a few correspondence from Ed as Athletic Director

Darrell K. Royal- 1962- 1980

Royal said his idea of hell was having to sit through a meeting with a bunch of pipe smokers . “They spend their whole lives lighting their pipes.

Darrell K. Royals life work is covered in detail in many other sections on this website. After DKR retired in 1976 he remained as Athletic Director until 1979 helping to lay the foundation for stricter NCAA guidelines on recruiting and admission standards for student athletes. In 1980 he became a special adviser to the UT President on Athletic affairs until 1990.

Betty Thompson  1967-1975

Betty A. Thompson Endowment was formed in 1989 with a gift from the estated of Ms. Thompson. The endowment promotes excellence in the recreational programming, contributions my be mad to The University of Texas at Austin-Betty A. Thompson Endowment.

Betty Thompson was a teacher, administrator, leader, and crusader. She is responsible for developing and advancing the goals and mission of the University implementing the first program in intercollegiate athletics for women.

She formed the Division of Recreational Sports in the early 1970’s and in 1985 passed a referendum in which students voted for the first time to build a new recreational center and pay for it with student fee.

Betty Thompson had the responsibilities of the Athletic Director but not the title. She was a faculty member at Texas who was hired as the Director of Women’s Intramurals.

In 1973 Men and Women intramurals were combined under the “Division of Recreational Sports with Betty Thompson as Director.

1974- She was responsible for converting seven club sports to varsity sports. She hired Rodney Page for women’s basketball and Pat Patterson of women’s swimming.

1975- Betty Thompson moved all administrative functions of the Division of Recreational Sport from Anna Hiss Gym to Gregory Gym Annex.

Betty Thompson made significant contributions to support Title IX. She established the first annual budget for the Women’s Athletic Department, which totaled $94,850. Less than the football program’s yearly phone bill. The UT President reduced the women’s budget to $50,000.

Betty Thompson, as Director, won the Babe Didrikson awards for Best Athletic Department in 1975 and 1976.

To learn more about Betty Thompson, visit the navigation page search for “pioneer” then visit Betty Thompson’s site.

Donna Lopiano- 1975- 1992

Click on link below denoted in blue font

 DONNA LOPIANO – WOMEN’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR (squarespace.com)

As an athlete, Donna participated in 26 national championships in four sports and is a nine-time All-American at four different positions in softball. 

While playing for the Brakettes, she compiled a career record of 183–18. She delivered 1633 strikeouts in 817 innings, for an average of just under two per inning. She finished her Brakettes career in the top ten of several categories, including hits, RBIs, runs, and home runs.

Dr. Donna Lopiano was the University of Texas women’s athletics director from 1975 to 1992. She was able to build The University of Texas into a model women’s athletic program winning 18 national championships and producing more than 300 All-Americans. She is a member of the University of Texas Women’s Hall of Honor and Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.

Title IX speech by Lopiano is below

http://www.twu.edu/twhf/video.asp?id=dlopiano

Donna Lopiano’s was

• named one of “The 10 Most Powerful Women in Sports” by Fox Sports;

• listed by The Sporting News as one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Sports.”; and

• a college coach for men’s and women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, and women’s softball.

Donna was a member of the National Sports Hall of Fame, National Softball Hall of Fame, Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame. She is also a past President of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

https://youtu.be/y-CbrIIhAi8

Bill Ellington 1980- 1981

Bill Little says of Bill Ellington, “One of the legendary figures in the Darrell Royal era of Texas football was Bill Ellington, who was a great coach and a special gift of putting things into perspective. With regularity, Ellington would lean back on his stool in the coaches’ locker room after the final practice of the week and exclaim: Men, the hay is in the barn.” In other words, the work had been done. Now, it was time to go play.”

After T-Jones was passed over for the A.D. job and Coach Tom Landry turned down the A.D. job, the selection committee settled on Deloss Dodds as the new A.D. Bill Ellington told the new A.D, Deloss Dodds, “You’ve got just two problems at Texas, one is the basketball coach (Abe Lemons and the other is the football coach (Fred Aker’s). Ellington implied that Doss would have to fire both of them.

DeLoss Dodds 1981-2013

The Longhorn Foundation is spearheading the Mary Ann & DeLoss Dodds Campaign to specifically support former student-athletes who seek to return to campus and complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.

If you can help fund this worthy cause,  please make a donation to the Mary Ann & DeLoss Dodds fund at TheLonghornFoundation.com/Dodds.

Deloss Dodds-  “We are the Joneses”

Dallas Coach Tommy Landry was offered the A.D. job but declined. The sentimental favorite for the job was T-Jones, but the decision-makers passed over him. Even Deloss declined the offer twice before finally accepting the job when the money was right.

Deloss was an astute negotiator and a shrewd businessman with a poker face. Deloss was hired to modernize a country store operation and to fire coaches. The first to go was Abe Lemons. After warning him verbally and in writing for two years, Abe was fired. Women’s A.D. Donna Lopiano said, “I liked Abe, but I think that was a pretty good decision. Abe was not attentive to the academic side, but a great basketball coach.”

Royal says that under his poker face is a guy who “sweats blood” over football games. “He probably lives and dies with every snap, but pipe smokers don’t show emotion. “

Akers says that Deloss represented the corporate world. No eye contact and no handshakes to seal a commitment. At Deloss meetings, Aker says, “you’d better have 14 lawyers present.

Author Robert Heard agreed with Coach Akers, saying that the almighty dollar controls Deloss and is prone to overstaff. His firing of Lemons was just as bad as his hiring of a basketball coach Weltlich. Heard says Doss is an accountant, and Donna Lopiano says, “He is the best T.V. mind in the country and an ace business person.” “Texas is in as good a financial shape as any Division I-A program in the country.” Under Deloss, UT’s budget grew from 4 million to 107 million, and the Longhorn Foundation grew o 12,000 members.

Under Dodds, Sportswriter Mark Rosner noted that Texas had one of the nation’s best weight rooms and one of its biggest “dead-weight rooms” (overstaffed).

Dodds attended college as a scholarship track athlete and he won the conference championship in 1959.

He was the head track coach of Kansas State from 1963-1976 and won 6 Big Eight championships- four in cross country and two in indoor track and field. He was promoted to the athletic director of Kansas State in 1977 and resigned in 1981 to join the Longhorns. DeLoss was also on the NCAA Postseason football committee, chairman of the CFA television committee negotiating lucrative packages. Donna Lopiano said, “he is the best TV mind in the country and an ace business person.” “Texas is in as good a financial shape as any Division I-A program in the country. “

Important Milestones During DeLoss Dodds tenure as Athletic Director of Texas :

• Texas wins 14 National Championships;

• 108 conference titles through September 29, 2011;

• Spent 380 million dollars in athletic facility upgrades;

• Creates the Longhorn regional Sports Network in conjunction with ESPN;

• Hires Mack Brown;

• Hires Augie Garrido;

• Hires Rick Barnes ;

• Increased the total revenue for the Athletic Department;

• Successfully transitions the Longhorns from the SWC to the Big 12;

• With a few minor exceptions his years as A.D. are NCAA sanction free;

• Grew the Athletic department from 70 employees to 350; and

• generates more revenue and brand awareness than any other University.

To get Mack Brown Deloss Dodds promised Mack Brown an unlimited budget, and Deloss laughingly said to Mack “you exceeded it.”

His awards include :

• 1988 induction into the Drake relays Coaches Hall of Fame;

• 1995 induction into the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame;

• 2002 and 2005 Under Armor Athletic Director of the Year;

• 2006 inducted into the United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame;

• 2006 receives the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s John L. Toner Award;

• 2006 inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame; and in

• 2011 is the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year.

      POSTED: 10/03/2014 – UPDATED: 6/29/2015

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State Athletics honored former Wildcat standout student-athlete, coach, and athletics director DeLoss Dodds by holding an annual track and field meet named in his honor, the DeLoss Dodds Track and Field Invitational. The inaugural invitational will take place Jan. 23-24 and will be the fourth of five total home meets for the Wildcats during the 2014-15 indoor season.

“K-State is our home. We love you guys,” Dodds said. “We had a great time here; you grew us up…Thank you to each of you because this is really special to me. It’s humbling, it’s special, and I’m very proud [to be honored].”

Head track and field coach Cliff Rovelto, who also spoke at Friday’s event, said Dodds’ honoring was an appropriate one.

“He was probably the first coach, not to take anything away from anyone else, but you look back in our history, and he was the first coach to produce championship-caliber teams and tremendously high-level athletes,” Rovelto said. “He laid the foundation, if you will, for high-level performance [at K-State]. As an athletic director, arguably one of the most influential in the country, he always remained loyal to our sport and backed us up in times of need, and was still a spokesman for our sport. The Big 12 Conference has become a great track conference, and I think a lot of that is because of people like DeLoss that supported our sport. ……..
 

Jody Conradt- From 1992-2001 Conradt also served UT in a dual role as basketball coach and women’s athletics director.

https://www.texaslsn.org/conradt1976-2007

Chris Plonsky 2001- 2022

07.04.2016

12.14.2022 | Women’s Basketball

Plonsky named 2023 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director Chris Plonsky was named the 2023 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball, by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, the organization announced today. 

Plonsky and Roy Williams, the 2023 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Men’s Basketball honoree will be honored at the 2023 Final Four. 

First presented in 1982 to Curt Gowdy on the men’s side, and in 1993 to Margaret Wade for women’s, the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award is presented annually to individuals whose extraordinary efforts have made outstanding contributions and created a long‐lasting positive impact on the game of basketball. 

“Basketball long has been a personal love and career passion. I am humbled by and grateful for this honor since so many of our most accomplished and respected basketball leaders, mentors and professionals share it,” said Plonsky.  “Thank you to the Atlanta Tipoff Club and Naismith Awards selection committee for this unexpected but appreciated gift. Working with others on behalf of the game continues to be a privilege.”

About Chris Plonsky:

·       Earned three letters in basketball at Kent State, served as editor of the school newspaper, and was the student Sports Information Director from 1976-1979.

·       Worked in media relations at Iowa State University (1979-81).

·       Joined the University of Texas athletics staff in January 1982 as the Women’s Sport Information Director.

·       Named Big East Conference Office Director of Public Relations in July 1986 and spent seven years with the league in public relation and assistant commissioner duties.

·       Returned to UT Athletics in 1993 as the Associate Athletics Director for External Services. She currently holds the position of Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director.

·       USA Basketball board member, a United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Collegiate Advisory Council member, and former board member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

·       Former president of the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics (NACDA), National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA), and Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly NACWAA).

·       Named the Women Leaders in College Sports Administrator of the year in 2014.

·       Inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame (2021).

Texassports.com

Chris Plonsky is the NACDA President for 2016-17.

“It is an honor to serve NACDA, its membership and Executive Committee,” Plonsky said. “We are enjoying record levels of diversity, engagement, and participation in all NACDA organizations. This period is a critical time in collegiate athletics. 

NACDA members work every day to enrich and enhance every student’s collegiate educational experiences, personal leadership development opportunities, and competitive aspirations.

NACDA, now in its 52nd year, is the professional and educational association for more than 12,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. More than 6,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 17 professional associations and three foundations.

We are especially pleased to continue collaboration with the NCAA staff, members of the Division 1A AD Association, NACWAA, and the 17 affiliate associations under the NACDA umbrella.”

Plonsky served on NACDA’s Executive Committee from 2002-04 and again in 2014. She also was the 1st Vice President during the 2015-16 term. Her past NCAA committee work includes service on the NCAA Committee on Academic Performance (CAP), the NCAA President’s Task Force on Commercialization, and five years with the Division I Management Council (chair from January 2003-April 2004). Plonsky also is a former board member and president of the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and was a 2003 NACMA Hall of Fame inductee.

Plonsky has served as UT’s third women’s athletics director since spring 2001. In this time, Longhorn women’s sports programs have recorded three NCAA Championships (2005 outdoor track and field, 2006 indoor track and field, and 2012 volleyball) and a league-best 54 Big 12 Conference championships across ten different sports. This total includes five league titles during the recently completed 2015-16 season (volleyball, indoor track and field, swimming, rowing, and outdoor track and field). The Longhorns’ 11-sport women’s program provides competitive and educational opportunities for more than 190 women student-athletes, including walk-ons.

Plonsky has worked with staff and vendors responsible for television, corporate sponsorship, communication, brand stewardship, and revenue generation to support Texas men’s and women’s athletics since 1993. She is the contract liaison with Texas Athletics’ multimedia rights and sponsorship sales agent IMG College. IMG College’s sponsorship sales for Texas Athletics and the Frank Erwin Center rank among the highest in the nation and feature digital media, consumer and retail promotions, radio, internet, and video.

In August of 2016, The University of Texas, IMG College, and world-wide sports leader ESPN will begin year six of collaboration on Longhorn network, a linear tv channel dedicated to Texas athletics and academic programming. LHN produces more than 170 live events annually. Rights fees from LHN are distributed to both Texas Athletics and University President Gregory L. Fenves for use in establishing academic chairs and programs.

Plonsky also supervises UT’s trademark and licensing staff. In 2015, UT and Learfield Licensing Partners collaborated on a new licensing model, including sideline partner Nike and master licensee 289C/Dallas Cowboys Merchandising. Texas has been among the national leaders in the trademark royalty generation since 2005.

Steve Patterson 2013-2015

Interim-Mike Perrin 2015-2016

                            USA TODAY DEC 3RD 2015
TEXAS NAMES MIKE PERRIN PERMANENT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
 

Texas athletic director Michael Perrin, left, and University of Texas President Greg Fenves give the “Hook ’em Horns” sign during a news conference.(Photo: AP)

                         Mike Perrin – Then And Now

Mike Perrin was the men’s athletics director with a contract to fill the role through the 2017-18 school year.

“Since Mike became interim AD, he has proved to be a resourceful and valuable asset to the athletics department, improving relationships with our fans and alumni,” Texas President Gregory L. Fenves said in a statement. “His experiences as a student-athlete and a successful lawyer and businessman have given him unique insight that complements his strong leadership. I am confident Mike will continue bringing positive change and pride to our Men’s Athletics Department.”

Perrin succeeded Steve Patterson on an interim basis after Patterson’s resignation Sept. 15.

“I am excited to continue the work I’ve begun over the past three months in moving Texas Sports forward, and I thank President Fenves for this opportunity,” Perrin said in a statement. “I am already working closely with coaches in all sports to provide the support they need to win on the field and prepare their students for life off the field. And I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the backing I’ve received from alumni, faculty, and fans.”

Perrin played football for the Longhorns under coach Darrell Royal in the 1960s and has a bachelor’s and law degrees from the university.

Perrin is a career attorney and has been a partner in multiple law firms.

ASSOCIATE PRESS DEC 3RD 2015

TEXAS EXTENDS MIKE PERRIN’S CONTRACT TO 2018

AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas president Greg Fenves announced Thursday that he is taking the interim tag off men’s athletic director Mike Perrin and extending his contract by two years into 2018.

Perrin, an attorney and former Longhorns football player was hired in September after Steve Patterson was forced out after less than two years.

Perrin was initially hired on a one-year contract for $750,000. According to Fenves’ office, Perrin’s salary will remain the same, and he will be an at-will employee without a formal agreement.

Patterson had a guaranteed contract worth at least $1.4 million per year, which forced a settlement for $3 million from Texas when he resigned under pressure. A Fenves spokesman said the president has the discretion to make a move and that it will not require approval from the university’s board of regents.

“Since Mike became interim AD, he has proved to be a resourceful and valuable asset to the athletics department, improving relationships with our fans and alumni,” Fenves said.

Mike was responsible for a new $250 million apparel and licensing contract with Nike, and the announcement That Texas would not raise football season-ticket prices for two years.

“Since Mike became interim AD, he has proved to be a resourceful and valuable asset to the athletics department, improving relationships with our fans and alumni,” Texas President Gregory L. Fenves said in a statement. “His experiences as a student-athlete and a successful lawyer and businessman have given him unique insight that complements his strong leadership. I am confident Mike will continue bringing positive change and pride to our Men’s Athletics Department.”

Perrin succeeded Steve Patterson on an interim basis after Patterson’s resignation Sept. 15.

“I am excited to continue the work I’ve begun over the past three months in moving Texas Sports forward, and I thank President Fenves for this opportunity,” Perrin said in a statement. “I am already working closely with coaches in all sports to provide the support they need to win on the field and prepare their students for life off the field. And I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the backing I’ve received from alumni, faculty, and fans.”

Perrin played football for the Longhorns under coach Darrell Royal in the 1960s and has a bachelor’s and law degrees from the university.

Perrin is a career attorney and has been a partner in multiple law firms.

ASSOCIATE PRESS DEC 3RD 2015

TEXAS EXTENDS MIKE PERRIN’S CONTRACT TO 2018

AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas president Greg Fenves announced Thursday that he is taking the interim tag off men’s athletic director Mike Perrin and extending his contract by two years into 2018.

Perrin, an attorney and former Longhorns football player was hired in September after Steve Patterson was forced out after less than two years.

Perrin was initially hired on a one-year contract for $750,000. According to Fenves’ office, Perrin’s salary will remain the same, and he will be an at-will employee without a formal agreement.

Patterson had a guaranteed contract worth at least $1.4 million per year, which forced a settlement for $3 million from Texas when he resigned under pressure. A Fenves spokesman said the president has the discretion to make a move and that it will not require approval from the university’s board of regents.

“Since Mike became interim AD, he has proved to be a resourceful and valuable asset to the athletics department, improving relationships with our fans and alumni,” Fenves said.

Mike was responsible for a new $250 million apparel and licensing contract with Nike, and the announcement That Texas would not raise football season-ticket prices for two years.