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With current AD Bill Battle set to retire, Alabama announced that University of Arizona AD Greg Byrne will come to Tuscaloosa in order to fill the same position.
Byrne was previous at Mississippi State before heading west to Pac-12 country. He comes to Alabama after eight years in Tucson.
Thank you for all of the incredible messages today. Regina and I feel truly blessed by the outpouring of support. #BearDown #RollTide
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) January 16, 2017
While the coaching fraternity often includes many friendships, upper-level management also has relationships scattered throughout the collegiate level. Florida AD Scott Stricklin knows Byrne personally, and offered these thoughts on Alabama’s new hire (per Alex Byington):
I appreciate UF's @ScottStricklin taking time to speak w/ me about new #Alabama AD @Greg_Byrne.
Here's just a snippet of what he said: pic.twitter.com/ARqsdXy08n— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) January 16, 2017
It will be fascinating to see the relationship Byrne will have with head football coach Nick Saban. The football program alone created more than $100 million in revenue this past season.
With Saban approaching his 66th birthday, Byrne might also have to eventually name a replacement for the iconic head coach — something which will undoubtedly garner a ton of interest.
