TULSA — With the University of Tulsa's athletic director Derrick Gragg leaving for a prominent role with the NCAA, the athletic department is welcoming a familiar face as the Interim Director of Athletics.
The University of Tulsa is welcoming Rick Dickson as the new Interim Director of Athletics. Dickson led the TU athletics program in the early 1990s. After holding the Athletic Director position at TU for five years, Dickson went on to lead programs at Washington State University and Tulane University.
We are thrilled to have someone of Rick’s caliber during this transition to lead our student-athletes and Athletics Department. His rich history with our university and community gives him the tools to hit the ground running in support of our student-athletes, coaches, trainers and staff.
Gragg's had been the Vice President and Director of Athletics for TU since March 2013, according to the University of Tulsa's website.
TU Interim President Janet Levit commented on the impact Gragg's has had on their athletic program and students.
Derrick's leadership truly will be missed. He recognizes that the student in student-athlete always comes first. Even while building a championship culture for the Golden Hurricane, his focus was always on helping students succeed in the classroom as well as on the field.
Tulsa athletics made the switch from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference in 2014-15, under Gragg's direction.
During Gragg's tenure, several athletic facilities at TU have been renovated. Gragg also tripled the amount of athletics apparel for student-athletes, coaches and staff in the department's first all-sport apparel agreement with adidas.
Gragg started his athletics career in 1993 at Vanderbilt, his alma matter, as an academic counselor. He added the director of student life to his resume in his final year at Vanderbilt in 1995. From there he went to work at such universities as Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas and Eastern Michigan.
Gragg is going to be NCAA's new senior vice president for inclusion, education and community engagement, according to a NCAA news release.
Derrick brings exceptional experience and knowledge to the NCAA, and we look forward to his strong leadership around diversity, inclusion and equity policies and procedures for the Association. As a former FBS football student-athlete and longtime athletics administrator in roles in many segments of Division I, Derrick understands the intercollegiate landscape and will be able to formulate relationships where the NCAA can work with constituencies to build more inclusive environments, which will enhance the experiences of student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators. We welcome him and his family to Indianapolis.
No immediate successor has been named for TU's athletic director. Gragg's remains at TU until Sept. 17, officials with TU said. He will begin his role at the NCAA on Oct. 5.
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