The University of Texas at Austin has asked the UT System Board of Regents to approve a contract extension for Chris Del Conte of up to $19.255 million through 2030. Under Del Conte's leadership since joining Texas in December 2017, the Longhorns have secured 11 national championships and 58 Big 12 Conference titles, solidifying the University's reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate athletics. He has also overseen a comprehensive facility renovation touching all 20 Longhorn sports, the largest in the history of college athletics, and has propelled the department to back-to-back Learfield Directors' Cup titles, an annual award given to the nation's top-performing athletics department.
"Chris Del Conte came to the Forty Acres with a vision for elevating Texas Athletics to compete and win both on and off the field and he has consistently delivered." said Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents. "In my opinion, he is the best athletic director in the country. I am excited to see his contract extended to 2030 and look forward to continuing to work with him to make all of Longhorn Nation proud."
Reimagining the Longhorn football gameday experience, Del Conte added Bevo Boulevard, Smokey's Midway and Longhorn City Limits, and he set single-game and season football attendance records. The recently completed $180 million south end zone project at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium added numerous fan enhancements, while providing state-of-the-art facility upgrades for the student-athletes and football program. The $375 million Moody Center provided similar upgrades for basketball, family shows, performances by renowned artists and local high school graduations, cementing its status as a community entertainment hub.
"Texas Athletics is both the front porch of our University and part of the connective tissue that brings Longhorns together," said President Jay Hartzell. "Chris Del Conte's leadership has transformed Texas Athletics in the face of a changing landscape for college sports. His unmatched ideas and ability to execute, his genuine regard for our current and former student-athletes and his ability to identify and attract coaches and coaching staff who are among the best in the country have set us up for many more years of success."
"Nearly six years ago, I followed my dream to lead the best collegiate athletics program in the country at a university that changes the world," said Del Conte, who also serves as UT's vice president for athletics. "I have been truly honored and thrilled to have such genuine support and trust from Chairman Eltife and President Hartzell. With Longhorn Nation firmly behind us, we have steadfastly worked together to make Texas an elite destination for collegiate athletics, surrounded by the premier coaches, staff and student-athletes in the country. I could not be more exited as we head into the final year of the Big 12, prepare to enter the Southeastern Conference, and embark on the next chapter in the proud and storied history of Texas Athletics."
Texas Athletics is one of the few athletics programs in the country that is self-sustaining, generating $7 million annually for the University's academic enterprises. The program does not use state funding. The Board of Regents will vote on the motion to extend Del Conte's contract at its regularly scheduled meeting Aug. 23-24.
