It’s official. TCU athletics director Jeremiah Donati headed to South Carolina
TCU athletics director Jeremiah Donati is headed to the SEC.
South Carolina officially hired Donati on Thursday after his contract was approved by the Board of Trustees. Reports surfaced Wednesday that Donati was finalizing an agreement with the Gamecocks.
Donati held his introductory press conference in Columbia on Thursday afternoon and will begin his new position on Jan. 2, 2025.
His contract is set to run through June 30, 2031, according to USA Today sports reporter Steve Berkowitz. The contract is worth $1.9 million per year and South Carolina will pay Donati’s buyout at TCU.
According to Sportico, Donati’s salary is the second highest in the SEC behind former TCU AD and current Texas AD Chris Del Conte, whose salary is $2.17 million. Alabama AD Greg Byrne is third at $1.49 million.
Head of the athletics department for seven years, Donati has overseen TCU’s rise to win eight national championships in various sports and double-digit Big 12 Conference crowns.
Donati hired football coach Sonny Dykes before the 2022 season and Dykes led the Horned Frogs to the national championship game in his first season. In 2022-23, TCU became the first team in the College Football Playoff era to reach the CFP, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and the College World Series in the same academic year.
Donati also hand picked Mark Campbell to take over the women’s basketball program and the Horned Frogs are currently ranked top-10 in Campbell’s second season.
While at TCU, Donati oversaw $500 million worth of facility improvements and while in charge for Frog Club for four years, it generated its three highest totals of giving.
Donati was also running in the USC athletic directors job last year, but opted to stay in Fort Worth for another year.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 12:07 PM.
