We may never know how many people were interviewed by the school to fill the acting athletic director’s role during Tom Jurich’s suspension.
Nor should we care because Vince Tyra appears to have been an amazing hire.
Uniquely qualified in so many ways, for either the short-term or the long haul, ready to totally immerse himself in his new post as Acting Athletic Director at the University of Louisville.
He’s a life-long UofL fan who closely follows the school’s academic and athletic programs, wanting to take them to the highest levels. He hails from a UofL family and the son of the basketball program’s first consensus All-American basketball player.
And he admires and respects Tom Jurich for what he has accomplished at UofL, considering Jurich among the best in the business.
“I’m passionate about UofL athletics, I grew up a Cardinals’ fan, raised my kids as Cardinals’ fans,” he said during a Tuesday press conference at Bigelow Hall on Belknap Campus. “Tom is a good friend. His legacy is all around us. While this has been a difficult period for us, it’s a time for our fan base to dig in even deeper. It’s a time for us to be even more supportive.
“While this is a difficult process of what we’re going through, we have a terrific set of athletic programs all across the board. One of them may have a flat tire right now, but we will prop it back up. I’m looking forward to work with David Padgett.”
Tyra’s 80-year old mother still attends every UofL basketball game and he said she cheers like her late husband Charlie Tyra is still playing for the Cardinals. His father averaged more 20 points and 20 rebounds per game during his junior and senior seasons, leading Louisville to a National Invitation Tournament championship in his junior year.
Vince has blazed his own trail, has been enormously successful in business, serving as Chief Executive Officer for five companies, most recently as operating partner in Southfield Capital and as an advisor to ISCO Industries where he served as president. He was also president of retail and active wear at Fruit of the Loom.
When a new board was appointed for the University of Louisville Foundation last year, Tyra was named chairman of the ULF’s finance committee, establishing new guidelines to control spending and to restore credibility with major university donors.
After leaving a ULF board meeting last week, Tyra walked down to the baseball field where he met with UofL Coach Dan McDonnell. “We stood on the field and just talked. I know he’s a leader among our coaches. We’ve got a great group of coaches, many of them have been here more than 10 years. I’m going to enjoy working with all of them.”
It was obvious during his introductory press conference that Vince Tyra is an individual who has considered himself a part of the University of Louisville family. He was convincing when he said very much appreciates what Tom Jurich has done for the school.
One got the feeling that while he would devote a great deal of energy to the job and probably be enormously successful, Vince Tyra would have no problem stepping aside if Tom Jurich were allowed to return and continue his life’s work. They share a common interest, first and foremost, in seeing UofL thrive and prosper again.
Good job Charlie.
What kind of “good friend” voluntarily takes the job that the “friend” would like to keep? (Granted, Tyra yesterday called everyone ever connected with U of L his “friend”.)
Or as we commonly hear is Tyra doing it “for the kids”?
Considering his own traits, maybe Postel has a hard time identifying potential character issues. Just what U of L needs at this time.
I think that’s a quandary for many of us who support UofL and felt close to Tom are facing today. It seems a long shot that TJ will return or would really want to return with Greg Postel in the president’s office and David Grissom and John Schnatter on the board. Vince Tyra didn’t need the job and he would have no reluctance in giving it up, but he apparently felt a call to get actively involved to help preserve the athletic program’s future. We are fortunate to have someone with his stature and capabilities, and love for UofL, stepping into the vacuum.