UTM Athletic Director, Freire, leaving for Pittsburgh
MARTIN, Tenn — The U.T. Martin athletics department announced Wednesday afternoon that their athletics director, Julio Freire, has resigned from his position to become the deputy athletics director for external affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my resignation from UT Martin,” Freire said. “As I prepare for the next chapter in my family’s life and my profession at the University of Pittsburgh, I leave with fond memories of West Tennessee and UT Martin. Above all else, it is the very people that make this a wonderful community and university that I/we will miss the most. For me and my family, it will always be a great day to be a Skyhawk.”
Freire was hired at the 12th athletics director in the school’s history in January of 2014.
He made six head coaching hires (men’s basketball, baseball, rifle, cross country, volleyball, cheer) and implemented an internal restructure within the athletics department during his tenure at UT Martin. He increased the department’s corporate sponsorships by 200 percent, saw major gifts funding grow by 300 percent and was instrumental in several facility upgrades – including the final phases of the Hardy Graham Stadium renovation project.
Freire’s resignation as Skyhawk director of athletics will take effect at a later date to be determined. An interim athletics director will be named as soon as possible.
