Chris Del Conte

Chris Del Conte
Name	Chris Del Conte
Birth date	1965
Birth place	Los Angeles County, California
Alma mater	Long Beach State University; Loyola Marymount University
Occupation	Athletic director, administrator, coach
Years active	1990s–present

Chris Del Conte

Chris Del Conte is an American collegiate athletic administrator and former coach known for leadership roles at multiple NCAA Division I institutions. He has served as athletic director at Texas Christian University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Texas at Austin, overseeing program development, facilities expansion, and conference realignment efforts. Del Conte's career intersects with prominent figures and institutions in Pac-10, Big 12, and Big 12 Conference realignment periods, and he has navigated relationships with donors, coaches, and university leadership.

Early life and education

Del Conte was raised in Los Angeles County and matriculated at Long Beach State University where he earned a bachelor's degree while participating in athletics programs linked to Long Beach State athletic traditions. He later completed a master's degree at Loyola Marymount University and developed networks with administrators and coaches associated with institutions such as University of Southern California, UCLA, and regional athletic departments. Early mentors and colleagues included personnel who had worked with programs at Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and other Pac-10 institutions.

Coaching and athletic administration career

Del Conte began his professional trajectory in coaching and athletic administration roles that brought him into contact with programs like UNLV, San Diego State University, and staff from University of Oregon. He transitioned from hands-on coaching support into administrative positions, collaborating with conference offices and university presidents, and building fundraising experience that engaged boards tied to institutions such as University of Washington and Stanford University. His administrative rise mirrored contemporaries who moved through positions at Clemson University, University of Florida, and North Carolina while shaping facility projects and compliance initiatives connected to NCAA policy changes.

Tenure at Texas Christian University (TCU)

At Texas Christian University, Del Conte served as athletic director where he engaged with stakeholders connected to Big 12 Conference membership discussions, negotiations with coaches from programs like TCU football and TCU basketball, and donors including foundations tied to regional philanthropy. During his tenure he worked alongside university leadership and trustees to upgrade facilities comparable to projects seen at Baylor University and Southern Methodist University. He negotiated contracts and hires that aligned with trends used by athletic departments at University of Oklahoma and University of Texas at Austin, and coordinated media rights conversations reminiscent of deals pursued by Big Ten Conference and SEC institutions.

Tenure at the University of Kansas

As athletic director at the University of Kansas, Del Conte oversaw Kansas Jayhawks programs across multiple sports, working with head coaches in football and basketball to stabilize competitive performance relative to peers like Iowa State University and Kansas State University. He managed facility upgrades and fundraising campaigns engaging donors similar to those supporting projects at University of Missouri and University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His administration engaged with conference office staff at the Big 12 Conference and collaborated with campus leaders and alumni groups with histories tied to events such as NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament appearances and bowl game negotiations.

Tenure at the University of Texas at Austin

At the University of Texas at Austin, Del Conte became athletic director amid heightened national attention on Texas Longhorns athletics, personnel moves across College Football Playoff landscapes, and conference realignment activity involving the Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference. He directed major capital projects for venues on par with developments at Ohio State University and University of Alabama, and led negotiations on coaching contracts that intersected with the professional profiles of coaches who had moved between programs like University of Miami and University of Southern California. His role included engagement with corporate partners, broadcast entities such as ESPN and FOX Sports, and donor organizations akin to the Longhorn Foundation.

Leadership, initiatives, and legacy

Del Conte's leadership emphasizes strategic fundraising, facilities modernization, and competitive program-building, reflecting practices used by athletic directors at institutions such as University of Notre Dame and Penn State University. He has participated in national discussions with representatives from the NCAA, conference commissioners including those from the Big 12 Conference and Pac-12 Conference, and peer administrators from schools like University of Michigan and University of Georgia. Initiatives under his direction have included capital campaigns, student-athlete support programs, and enhanced compliance measures responding to NCAA governance changes. His legacy is tied to elevated facilities, coaching hires, and revenue-generation models similar to those implemented at University of Texas at Austin, University of Oklahoma, and other high-profile athletic departments, influencing donor relations and competitive positioning in collegiate athletics.

Category:American athletic directors Category:Living people Category:1965 births