TCU
In the world of collegiate athletics, where the stakes are high and the titles even higher, TCU has unveiled its latest power play: Mike Buddie. Named as TCU’s ninth director of intercollegiate athletics after a nationwide search, Buddie is trading in Army black for Horned Frog purple, according to a release.
Buddie arrives from the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he spent the past four years proving that military precision applies just as well to the gridiron as it does to the battlefield. Under his leadership, Army football racked up a record-breaking 12-win season in 2024—a feat that matches the best of any service academy. Naturally, the College Football Playoff rankings took notice.
“TCU is building a world-class executive team to take us to our next level of excellence,” said TCU president Daniel W. Pullin in a statement. With athletics now officially enshrined as one of four “pillars” in the university’s strategic plan, it seems Buddie’s arrival is less about stepping in and more about strapping on a jetpack.
At Army, Buddie was busy juggling million-dollar projects and conference deals like a pro. He spearheaded a $170 million upgrade to Michie Stadium, inked a football-only deal with the American Athletic Conference, and even secured an undefeated season and a league championship for the Black Knights in their conference debut. Oh, and did we mention the TV contract with CBS? It’s almost like Buddie’s job description reads, “Defy expectations” in bold font.
TCU’s trustees clearly saw the potential. “Mike has the energy and experience to keep TCU on its incredible path forward,” said chair Kit Moncrief. If college athletics is, as Moncrief dubbed it, a “brave new world,” Buddie seems more than ready to lead the charge with a compass and a business plan.
As for Buddie, he’s all in. “There’s no place like TCU—the perfect mix of excellent academic reputation, unbeatable campus experience, and sports that pack a punch,” he said, ticking all the PR boxes in one sentence. With 20 years in Division I athletics and a World Series championship ring from his MLB days with the New York Yankees (1998) and a stint with the Milwaukee Brewers, Buddie is no stranger to high-pressure performance. He’s ready to help TCU’s athletic programs lean into the seismic shifts reshaping college sports.
Chancellor Victor J. Boschini Jr. echoed the enthusiasm. “We have the highest standards for leaders with character and grit,” he said. Buddie’s track record—which includes retaining top coaches and serving as Chair of the Division I Baseball Committee—suggests he fits the bill.
So, what’s next for the Buddie family? Mike, his wife Traci, and their two children, Zachary and Zoe, are packing up their Army-green memories and heading to Fort Worth. “Go Frogs!” Buddie declared, signaling his readiness to dive into TCU’s amphibian-forward culture.
