SAN ANTONIO – University of Texas at San Antonio Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Lynn Hickey announced Thursday that she is stepping down from her position for personal reasons, effective immediately.
"For the past 18 years, I have been a Roadrunner, and for that, I am truly blessed," Hickey said in a statement. "I had the opportunity to join UTSA in 1999 when it was a young university, and I have seen so much growth and excitement build around athletics, both at the university and in the San Antonio community.
"After a lot of reflection related to my family obligations, and with great pride in all we have accomplished in UTSA Athletics, it is time for a new leader to take the program to its next level."
Hickey joined UTSA in 1999, leading the Roadrunners to three conference commissioner's cups, two league all-sports trophies and team and individual academic and athletics awards in all 17 sports programs at the university.
During Hickey's tenure, UTSA competed in the Southland Conference from 2000 to 2012, during which time it added women's golf, women's soccer and football, then moved up to the Western Athletic Conference where it played for a year before joining Conference USA in 2013.
UTSA made history in 2011, when it brought NCAA Division I football to San Antonio. Since that time, the Roadrunners have drawn more than one million fans to their home games.
In 2016, the Roadrunners were invited to their first bowl game, the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
"Lynn has done a remarkable job of building our athletic programs and elevating their level of performance and stature," UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. "With this foundation in place, our academic, research and athletic programs are all positioned to take major steps forward in our pursuit to make UTSA a great learning and discovery enterprise. We thank Lynn for her service and will always look to her as one of UTSA's most loyal fans."
In addition to being the only female Division I athletics director to oversee both men's and women's sports in the state of Texas, Hickey served as president of the Southland from 2002-2004 and as the league's representative to the NCAA Championship/Competition Cabinet.
Hickey also was a member of the Women's Basketball Rules Committee from 2003-2006, spending the final two years of that term as chair. In 2007, she was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, one of the most prestigious appointments in all of collegiate athletics.
UTSA will immediately launch a national search for a new athletic director.
During the transition, Sam Gonzales, UTSA Vice President for Student Affairs, will serve as Interim Athletic Director. Gonzales has been with UTSA for more than 40 years, and as Vice President for Student Affairs, has overseen athletics since 2012.
