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Rice names Vanderbilt deputy AD as new athletic director
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Rice on Sunday announced that it has named Tommy McClelland as its new director of athletics. McClelland replaces Joe Karlgaard, who is leaving the university after a decade as AD for other opportunities.
“We’re thrilled to be able to attract someone with Tommy’s breadth of experience and success,” Rice president Reginald DesRoches said in a statement. “He brings the values of academic excellence and deep integrity that define Rice, coupled with a passionate desire to compete successfully at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics.”
McClelland served at Vanderbilt for 3 years. Prior to that, he served as AD at Louisiana Tech. While in Ruston, he helped oversee the transition from the WAC to Conference USA. Before his tenure at La. Tech, McClelland was AD at McNeese State, a role he accepted at just 26.
The Owls have recently made a move of their own, joining the American Athletic Conference from C-USA in July. They were in C-USA since 2005.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
