University of Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne Addresses Rotary
This week the Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed University of Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. Byrne discussed leading Alabama's 600 student athletes, coaches and staff comprising the Crimson Tide's 21 teams as they persevered through the pandemic, navigated the new Name, Image and Likeness and conference changes, and charted a vision for the future.
Under Byrne's leadership, the Crimson Tide posted its two best finishes in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup, including a program-high mark of seventh place following the 2020-21 season. Eighteen of Alabama’s teams advanced to national postseason competition last year, 13 of which were ranked in the top 25 at season’s end. The Tide celebrated a national and SEC championship in football, conference titles in men’s basketball, gymnastics and softball as well as individual national championships in cross country, gymnastics, swimming and diving and track and field.
“We are so fortunate to be able to work in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Alabama and to work with incredible young men and young women,” Byrne said. “Every single day we’re going to give great effort to make sure we continue to move forward, and serve our student athletes, serve our coaches, serve our university and serve our fans.”
Byrne discussed developing and implementing The Standard, a strategic plan outlining the mission statement and core values of Alabama Athletics, and The Crimson Standard, a 10-year, $600 million capital initiative focused on the renovation of facilities and development of infrastructure. He explained the importance of a broad-based program supporting academics, student-athlete welfare, athletics success, financial resources, facilities, staffing and operating with integrity to provide the foundation for future success in all aspects of the collegiate experience.
“Our state is incredible,” Byrne said. “We want to do everything we can to make sure we’re showcasing our university, our athletic department, and our state in a way that people will walk away saying, ‘Man, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the state of Alabama, the university…that’s a place I want to be associated with.”