Last week, Tulane named David Harris its new Athletic Director and the Ben Weiner Director of Athletics Chair.
Harris, the current Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), is a native of Baton Rouge and will return to his home state to officially begin his new role at Tulane on January 3rd.
“Central to David’s long and deep experience in collegiate athletics administration is his passion for the success of student-athletes, the value and integrity of competition and the importance of sports in uniting and inspiring students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and fans,” said Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts in a statement. “At Tulane, David will oversee an incredibly talented and dedicated group of student-athletes, coaches, administrators and staff who have elevated our athletics program to a high point in its long and storied history. With this hire, the opportunities and potential are limitless.”
Harris is well prepared for his new job after all of the success he helped create as Northern Iowa’s eighth AD.
He arrived at UNI in 2016 after working as senior associate athletic director at Iowa State where he served as the sport administrator for football, men’s basketball and wrestling. He also held oversight responsibilities for student-athlete development, compliance, athletic training, and strength and conditioning.
After his arrival in Iowa, he immediately continued the growth of its athletics programs, helping it to win 20 conference championships, have 17 “Coaches of the Year,” 28 “Players of the Year” and earn 11 NCAA tournament bids.
Harris also helped lead, according to Tulane’s statement, “record-breaking fundraising efforts and facility development at UNI, including a major renovation of the UNI-Dome, the construction of a softball hitting facility, outdoor tennis courts, a football team meeting room, an outdoor football practice field and the replacement of the playing surfaces for football and basketball/volleyball.”
Now the 2021 Athletics Director of the Year is looking to bring that success to the Green Wave.
“My career began supporting the academic pursuits of student-athletes and it has always been important to me to find a place that combines world-class academics with a pursuit of excellence in all of its athletic endeavors,” said Harris. “President Fitts is committed to the well-being, academic achievement and lifelong success of Tulane’s student-athletes and continuing to build an athletics program that matches the university’s nationally renowned research and academics.”
Congratulations David Harris!
