BYU’s Tom Holmoe Among Longest-Tenured Athletic Directors In College Sports

PROVO, Utah – BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe began his tenure leading the Cougars athletic department 15 years ago. In a results-driven business such as college sports, that longevity is not seen very often.

Of all the 130 Athletic Directors that oversee a Football Bowl Subdivision program, Holmoe is the seventh longest-tenured athletic director in college sports with UCLA’s Dan Guerrero stepping down effective June 30th. Guerrero was UCLA’s AD for 18 years.

Hired on March 1st, 2005, Holmoe is second in BYU history behind Glen Tuckett for the longest span overseeing BYU’s athletic department. This upcoming academic year will be Holmoe’s 16th overseeing BYU athletics.

The data for longest-tenured athletic directors was provided by AthleticDirectorU.com in a compensation survey for athletic directors around the country.

Longest-tenured Athletic Directors in College Sports

1. Kathy Beauregard, Western Michigan (Hire date: 9/24/1997)

2. Joe Castiglione, Oklahoma (4/15/1998)

3. Chet Gladchuk, Navy (10/1/2001)

4. Mitch Barnhart, Kentucky (6/30/2002)

5. Larry Teis, Texas State (3/1/2004)

6. Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin (6/30/2004)

7. Tom Holmoe, BYU (3/1/2005)

8. Gene Smith, Ohio State (3/5/2005)

9. Chris Massaro, Middle Tennessee State (4/8/2005)

10. Mike Holder, Oklahoma State (9/16/2005)

Holmoe career accomplishments

Since Holmoe took over as BYU’s athletic director in 2005, BYU sports has transitioned from the Mountain West Conference to being an FBS Independent and member of the West Coast Conference. Other noteworthy accomplishments include 13 football seasons with a winning record in Holmoe’s 15 years as athletic director.

In men’s basketball, BYU has played in the NCAA Tournament eight times, highlighted by a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.

BYU’s first National Championship with Holmoe as the athletic director took place this academic year when the men’s Cross Country program led by coach Ed Eyestone defeated rival Northern Arizona.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.