Tulane University announced on Monday that it has hired David Harris as its new director of athletics, effective Jan. 3, 2023. Harris will replace Troy Dannen, who left Tulane in October to become the AD at Washington.
Harris brings experience and success from UNI
Harris comes to Tulane from the University of Northern Iowa, where he served as the AD since 2016. During his tenure at UNI, Harris oversaw a successful athletics program that won 11 conference championships and made 19 postseason appearances across 17 sports. He also improved the academic performance and graduation rates of the student-athletes, as well as the fundraising and facilities of the department.
Harris was named the Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics in 2021, and served on the NCAA Constitution Committee and the NCAA Transformation Committee, where he helped shape the future of college sports.
Harris said he was honored and excited to join Tulane, and praised the university’s academic excellence, athletic achievements, and community engagement.
“I look forward to working with our outstanding coaches, staff, and student-athletes to build on the momentum that has been established and take Tulane Athletics to even greater heights,” Harris said in a statement.
Tulane welcomes Harris with enthusiasm and optimism
Tulane President Michael Fitts said he was thrilled to have Harris as the new AD, and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the Green Wave to new levels of success.
“David is a proven leader who has a vision for excellence in athletics that aligns with our mission as a university,” Fitts said. “He has a track record of building winning programs, supporting student-athletes, and engaging with the community. He is the perfect person to lead Tulane Athletics into the future.”
Tulane’s coaches and student-athletes also welcomed Harris with excitement and gratitude. Willie Fritz, the head coach of the football team, said he was looking forward to working with Harris and learning from his experience.
“He has done a tremendous job at UNI, and I know he will do the same here at Tulane,” Fritz said. “He is a great fit for our culture and our values, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together.”
Angie Benson, a senior goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team, said she was impressed by Harris’s achievements and commitment to student-athletes.
“He seems like someone who really cares about us as people, not just as athletes,” Benson said. “He has a lot of respect and recognition in the industry, and I think he will bring a lot of positive energy and innovation to our program.”
Harris faces challenges and opportunities at Tulane
Harris will inherit an athletics department that has seen remarkable growth and improvement in recent years, but also faces some challenges and opportunities in the changing landscape of college sports.
Under Dannen’s leadership, Tulane Athletics achieved unprecedented success both on and off the field. The Green Wave won 21 conference titles and made 41 postseason appearances, including a Cotton Bowl victory over USC earlier this year. The department also set records for academic progress and graduation success rates, and launched several initiatives to enhance diversity, inclusion, and name, image, and likeness rights for student-athletes.
However, Tulane also faces some uncertainty and competition in the American Athletic Conference, which will lose three of its members to the Big 12 in 2024. The conference is expected to add six new schools from Conference USA, but the impact of the realignment on the quality and revenue of the league is unclear.
Harris will also have to deal with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the schedules and operations of many sports. He will also have to continue the fundraising and facility upgrades that Dannen started, such as the expansion of Yulman Stadium and the renovation of Devlin Fieldhouse.
Harris said he was aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and said he was ready to embrace them with passion and creativity.
“I know that Tulane Athletics has a lot of potential and a lot of ambition, and I share that vision,” Harris said. “I am eager to get to work and collaborate with everyone in the Tulane family to make our dreams a reality.”
