Chancellor Jimmy Cheek introduced Dave Hart Jr., executive director of athletics at the University of Alabama, as the new vice chancellor and director of athletics on Monday, September 5, 2011. Hart had served in the Number 2 position at Alabama’s Athletics Department since August 2008, reporting to Athletics Director Mal Moore, managing the department’s day-to-day operations.
An Alabama graduate in 1971, Hart played basketball for the Crimson Tide and earned a master’s degree from Alabama in 1972 while working as a graduate assistant basketball coach. He taught and coached at the high school level prior to becoming the athletics director at East Carolina from 1987 to 1995. He then served as athletics director at Florida State University from 1995 to 2007, leaving in fall 2007 after learning that his contract would not be renewed. He was Athletics Director of the Year for the Southeast Region in 2000 and 2005, and is a recipient of the Robert R. Neyland Award.
Hart’s father, Dave Hart Sr., was athletics director at the University of Louisville from 1973 to 1977, University of Missouri AD from 1978 to 1986, and Commissioner of the Southern Conference from 1986 to 1991.