TCU Names Buddie as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
1/1/2025 2:19:00 PM | General
Buddie joins the Horned Frogs from Army West Point
FORT WORTH -- Texas Christian University has named Mike Buddie its ninth Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Following a nationwide search, Buddie joins TCU from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he served as Director of Athletics since 2019. During his tenure, he led Army's athletics programs to new heights. Football earned a College Football Playoff ranking in 2024 as the Black Knights won a program record 12 games, a mark that ties for the most in a season by any service academy in history.
"TCU is building a world class executive team to take us to our next level of excellence in educating future generations of Horned Frogs. We were looking for an individual who would honor our mission to educate ethical leaders and share our focus on student and community success," said President Daniel W. Pullin. "Our newly launched LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan is designed with athletics as one of our four key pillars. Amongst a cohort of stellar candidates, we found in Mike a leader who is on point with our strategic plan, who exemplifies the values, character and innovative approach that will continue to elevate athletic excellence as a priority."
While at Army, Buddie launched a strategic plan in September 2023 aimed at delivering a premier cadet-athlete experience to mold them into exceptional leaders and officers in the United States Army. Buddie led unprecedented facilities improvements and innovative investments in the Black Knights' programs, highlighted by a $170 million Michie Stadium Preservation Project that is the most ambitious private, gift-funded construction project in the history of the United States Military Academy. He also secured football-only membership in the American Athletic Conference in 2024 as Army went undefeated to win the league championship in its debut season.
Buddie was instrumental in securing Army West Point's television contract with CBS and extended partnerships with bowl games and Nike.
"There's no place like TCU - the perfect mix of excellent academic reputation, unbeatable campus experience, and sports that pack a punch," said Buddie. "I'm honored to join an organization that is committed to its mission and values but doesn't shy away from prioritizing winning. In my 20-year career at Division I universities, I've had a leading role in taking athletics programs to next-level performance. The intercollegiate landscape is transforming quickly, and TCU's brand is leaning into athletics as a distinctive element of its culture. I believe in the vision and am ready to step in and work with TCU's student-athletes, coaches and leaders to create real opportunities and momentum. My wife Traci and I are grateful to Army and all of our friends and colleagues in the industry who have supported us. We are thrilled to be joining the Horned Frog community. Go Frogs!"
TCU's Board of Trustees has been instrumental in the selection of key executive hires for the university, including the recent naming of Floyd Wormley as provost and now Buddie as director of intercollegiate athletics.
"For two decades now, I've witnessed the power of our athletics programs help TCU to grow and thrive," Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., said. "We view athletics as an important part of TCU's overall success, and we have the highest standards for leaders with character and grit. Mike Buddie shares our vision for mission-related excellence and for TCU's unlimited potential as an athletics powerhouse."
On behalf of the Trustees, Chair Kit Moncrief added her enthusiasm. "Mike has the energy and experience to keep TCU on its incredible path forward. College athletics is a brave new world, and we need leaders who can support students as athletes and entrepreneurs as well as develop pathways for TCU to reach new audiences," Moncrief said.
Buddie has been prominent on the national level as Chair of the Division I Baseball Committee. He was able to retain successful head coaches throughout his time at West Point, providing contract extensions to Head Football Coach Jeff Monken as well as coaches in four other sports who received Patriot League Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his time at Army West Point, Buddie served four years as athletics director at Furman University. He negotiated a multi-year partnership with Nike, produced the department's first balanced budget and spearheaded an effort to bring the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament back to Upstate South Carolina in 2017. He also secured several major financial gifts, including a trio of $1 million endowments in support of the football and volleyball programs. Under Buddie's leadership, the Paladins won 26 Southern Conference Championships.
Buddie was senior associate athletic director for administration/development at Wake Forest. During his decade in Winston-Salem, N.C., he oversaw a number of different areas while serving as the sport administrator for baseball, women's soccer and men's golf. He also worked with the football and men's basketball programs. He was previously director of Wake Forest's Varsity Club.
Buddie is a 1993 graduate of Wake Forest with a degree in communications. He was a standout on the mound for the Demon Deacons baseball team. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. During his career, Buddie played for the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1998-to-2002 and was a member of the Yankees' 1998 World Series championship team.
Buddie and his wife Traci have two children, Zachary and Zoe.
Following a nationwide search, Buddie joins TCU from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he served as Director of Athletics since 2019. During his tenure, he led Army's athletics programs to new heights. Football earned a College Football Playoff ranking in 2024 as the Black Knights won a program record 12 games, a mark that ties for the most in a season by any service academy in history.
"TCU is building a world class executive team to take us to our next level of excellence in educating future generations of Horned Frogs. We were looking for an individual who would honor our mission to educate ethical leaders and share our focus on student and community success," said President Daniel W. Pullin. "Our newly launched LEAD ON: Values in Action strategic plan is designed with athletics as one of our four key pillars. Amongst a cohort of stellar candidates, we found in Mike a leader who is on point with our strategic plan, who exemplifies the values, character and innovative approach that will continue to elevate athletic excellence as a priority."
While at Army, Buddie launched a strategic plan in September 2023 aimed at delivering a premier cadet-athlete experience to mold them into exceptional leaders and officers in the United States Army. Buddie led unprecedented facilities improvements and innovative investments in the Black Knights' programs, highlighted by a $170 million Michie Stadium Preservation Project that is the most ambitious private, gift-funded construction project in the history of the United States Military Academy. He also secured football-only membership in the American Athletic Conference in 2024 as Army went undefeated to win the league championship in its debut season.
Buddie was instrumental in securing Army West Point's television contract with CBS and extended partnerships with bowl games and Nike.
"There's no place like TCU - the perfect mix of excellent academic reputation, unbeatable campus experience, and sports that pack a punch," said Buddie. "I'm honored to join an organization that is committed to its mission and values but doesn't shy away from prioritizing winning. In my 20-year career at Division I universities, I've had a leading role in taking athletics programs to next-level performance. The intercollegiate landscape is transforming quickly, and TCU's brand is leaning into athletics as a distinctive element of its culture. I believe in the vision and am ready to step in and work with TCU's student-athletes, coaches and leaders to create real opportunities and momentum. My wife Traci and I are grateful to Army and all of our friends and colleagues in the industry who have supported us. We are thrilled to be joining the Horned Frog community. Go Frogs!"
TCU's Board of Trustees has been instrumental in the selection of key executive hires for the university, including the recent naming of Floyd Wormley as provost and now Buddie as director of intercollegiate athletics.
"For two decades now, I've witnessed the power of our athletics programs help TCU to grow and thrive," Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., said. "We view athletics as an important part of TCU's overall success, and we have the highest standards for leaders with character and grit. Mike Buddie shares our vision for mission-related excellence and for TCU's unlimited potential as an athletics powerhouse."
On behalf of the Trustees, Chair Kit Moncrief added her enthusiasm. "Mike has the energy and experience to keep TCU on its incredible path forward. College athletics is a brave new world, and we need leaders who can support students as athletes and entrepreneurs as well as develop pathways for TCU to reach new audiences," Moncrief said.
Buddie has been prominent on the national level as Chair of the Division I Baseball Committee. He was able to retain successful head coaches throughout his time at West Point, providing contract extensions to Head Football Coach Jeff Monken as well as coaches in four other sports who received Patriot League Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to his time at Army West Point, Buddie served four years as athletics director at Furman University. He negotiated a multi-year partnership with Nike, produced the department's first balanced budget and spearheaded an effort to bring the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament back to Upstate South Carolina in 2017. He also secured several major financial gifts, including a trio of $1 million endowments in support of the football and volleyball programs. Under Buddie's leadership, the Paladins won 26 Southern Conference Championships.
Buddie was senior associate athletic director for administration/development at Wake Forest. During his decade in Winston-Salem, N.C., he oversaw a number of different areas while serving as the sport administrator for baseball, women's soccer and men's golf. He also worked with the football and men's basketball programs. He was previously director of Wake Forest's Varsity Club.
Buddie is a 1993 graduate of Wake Forest with a degree in communications. He was a standout on the mound for the Demon Deacons baseball team. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. During his career, Buddie played for the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1998-to-2002 and was a member of the Yankees' 1998 World Series championship team.
Buddie and his wife Traci have two children, Zachary and Zoe.
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