Eric Hyman officially resigns

There are many published and televised reports saying that Eric Hyman, the athletic director for the University of South Carolina, is leaving for Texas A&M University.

Hyman has lots of Texas roots. He was the athletic director of Texas Christian University (TCU) before he was the AD at Carolina. His kids and spouses still live in Fort Worth, 3 hours north of College Station.

Update: From @JoshattheState (Josh Kendall):  Are you going to be the next AD at TAMU? Eric Hyman: "You know how I respond," meaning he doesn't. Just walked into BOT meeting (about 30 minutes ago, 10:55am)

Chuck Allen, a member of SC's board of trustees, per Scott Hood of Gamecock Central: Chuck Allen confirms Hyman leaving.

Billy Liucci, the man who runs Texags.com, says: Update from South Carolina: AD Eric Hyman informs Gamecock coaches/staff that he's leaving for Texas A&M.

According to David Cloninger, (@DCatGckCentral), Hyman has resigned at 1:54pm. Leaving because of family.


The Houston Chronicle is reporting Hyman is leaving. Brett Zwerneman, the A&M beat writer there, tweeted this story at 12:07am Friday: http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/college_sports/aggies/article/Aggies-tab-South-Carolina-s-Hyman-as-new-AD-3671836.php

This would be a very interesting search for the Gamecocks if Hyman leaves. He has brought the program very far, helping build Carolina Stadium, improve Williams-Brice, along with many other additions that have been seen by the athletes at Carolina.

They include the Dodie, South Carolina's academic enrichment center for athletes, which has been a huge help to the athletes.

According to @TarpRivals, Hyman will earn double his SC salary ($1,000,000) at A&M.

This has come out of the blue as A&M wants to become a force in the SEC immediately. Hiring Hyman as AD would be a great help. He has been regarded as one of the best athletic directors in the nation, having been an athletic administrator for over 30 years at almost half a dozen schools.

I will update this story as it goes. It is very interesting. Who would replace Hyman? President Harris Pastides has many choices even with just two months till football starting. He could go inside the program, hiring Ray Tanner (which would necessitate a new baseball coach) or someone in the athletic department, or he could conduct a outside search.

The Post and Courier's Darryl Slater is reporting Chris Massaro, a former athletic department member at South Carolina, and Dan Radakovich, Georgia Tech AD, could be candidates. 

With Carolina having one of the fastest-growing athletic departments in the nation, people would be lining up for a chance to lead the university's sports into the future. The baseball program is one of the best in the nation; men's basketball will be growing with new coach Frank Martin, and football has gone from an also-ran in the SEC to one of the top 20-25 programs in the nation. Women's basketball with new coach Dawn Staley has quickly improved.

Stay tuned.