New Pitt athletic director Allen Greene understands reality of college athletics: Money matters

Pitt introduced Allen Greene as its next athletic director Wednesday morning, and the theme was as clear as a bank statement.

Money.

Blunt, honest and to the point, Jeff Capel said as much when asked what he might ask of Greene if the two men sat down to discuss what the coach needs for his basketball program.

“NIL, money,” Capel said, unashamedly.

“NIL,” he repeated. “We need money.”

That’s pretty much what college athletics have evolved into — the need to acquire talented athletes by either coaxing them to enroll as freshmen or transfer and making them happy enough to ignore other schools’ advances once they get on campus.

The best way to do that: money, these days tied to the athletes’ name, image and likeness.

Greene, 47, arrives at Pitt at a “transformational moment in Pitt athletics,” Chancellor Joan Gabel said.

Greene carries with him the requisite experience and knowledge of the current system that he formulated through time spent as athletic director at Auburn and the University of Buffalo and key administrative roles with Notre Dame (his alma mater), Ole Miss and Tennessee.

“I’ve sat in the chair,” he said. “I’ve done it before at a pretty high level. Nothing rocks me.”

Capel, a member of the university’s advisory committee that worked closely with the New Jersey-based search firm Turnkey ZRG to find Greene, said he spoke to many people about Greene and received the same response.

“He’s unbelievably respected by colleagues,” Capel said. “Anyone that I asked about Allen raved about him as a man, not just his professional experience.”

But his professional experience is considerable.

“I love the fact that he talked about being innovative (in fundraising),” Capel said. “Obviously, we’re in a very new climate and landscape in college athletics. I think it’s important to be innovative. Not to be reactive, but to have ideas and be willing to take risks the right way while maintaining integrity and following the rules.”

And then, there’s this:

“And the fact that he’s had a lot of success in fundraising,” the coach said. “Certainly, in college athletics now, that’s a big thing.”

Auburn and Buffalo enjoyed an increase in donations while Greene sat in the AD’s chair. Also under Greene’s watch, Auburn received its four largest all-time individual donations, and the $92 million Woltosz Football Performance Center — the largest athletics project in school history — was built.

At Pitt, he inherits Victory Heights, a facility currently under construction that will house several non-revenue sports, including women’s volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling. Former athletic director Heather Lyke, fired a month ago by Gabel, had raised only a fraction of the amount needed to cover Victory Heights’ $240 million price tag.

Hired only a week ago, Greene has plenty to do in that area when he officially starts work Nov. 1.

“I don’t have a full understanding of our financial picture,” said Greene, who referred to Lyke in his remarks, calling her a colleague and a friend.

“I know enough to be a little bit dangerous. Once I spend time going through our balance sheet, it will give me a better understanding of what resources need to go where and how we best allocate those.”

What he does know is that his two major programs — football and men’s basketball — are on steady ground with coaches Pat Narduzzi and Capel signed by Lyke through 2030.

“One of the things I anticipate is having a great relationship (with Greene),” Capel said, “having ideas, bouncing ideas, learning.”

Capel said it helps that Greene was a collegiate athlete, an outfielder at Notre Dame who was drafted by the New York Yankees.

“(Former athletes) understand what these young people go through,” Capel said. “They also understand what we go through as coaches. It assists with the partnership because they have shared experience for what college athletics really is. It’s a jolt for people who have been in it awhile. You have to be able to adapt very, very quickly.”

Look closely, and you’ll see Pitt’s non-revenue sports are largely successful, with volleyball ranked No. 1 and men’s and women’s soccer among the top programs in the nation.

“It certainly makes people feel good,” Greene said. “I’m a product of those non-revenue sports. But we also know football and men’s basketball are going to be the drivers. I want to make sure those programs are set up and built for success, not just in the conference, but nationally.”

To accomplish that, he must embrace NIL with vigor.

“It’s the reality of the world we’re in today,” Greene said. “Without having the resources to acquire talent, then you’re basically putting your coaches in a (difficult) position. NIL is going to be one of the top priorities. We have to make sure that our coaches have the resources to compete at the national level.”

He added, “I hate losing more than I like winning.”

The best way to avoid losing these days — either in professional sports and now in college — is often by financial means.

When asked about the difficulty inherent in asking people for large sums of money, Greene said, surprisingly, that’s not his job.

“I don’t ask for money,” he said. “Never have. I explain the vision, express the vision and let people enjoy the journey along with that vision.”