Mike Perrin will assume interim athletic director duties until a full-time replacement is named after the firing of Steve Patterson.
The University of Texas introduced interim athletic director Mike Perrin on Thursday afternoon.
Perrin, a former Texas linebacker letterman from 1966 to 1968, will assume interim athletic director duties until a full-time replacement is named after the firing of Steve Patterson on Tuesday.
Texas president Gregory Fenves reportedly received a number of complaints about Patterson since being named school president in June. The complaints have named a lack of transparency in both handling football season-ticket holders and financing a new tennis facility, as well as poor outreach to donors and failed communication with Patterson’s own department employees. On Tuesday night, Fenves said Texas is “concerned about our fans and how they view the program.”
Perrin echoed the sentiment on fans as he noted, “I've been concerned. I sat in the stands last week and saw empty seats.”
Mike Perrin says he was grilling on Labor Day when Fenves called to gauge his interest in becoming interim AD
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 16, 2015
Perrin said “I stand firmly behind our coaches” after meeting with several coaches within Texas athletics, including football head coach Charlie Strong and basketball head coach Shaka Smart on Wednesday morning. Perrin also said that Strong is running “a terrific program.”
The Texas Longhorns will play Cal on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium
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