South Carolina has hired TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati as its new AD, the school announced Thursday.
The university’s board of trustees approved the hiring where Donati, who spent the past seven years leading the Horned Frogs’ athletic department, will start Jan. 2, with his contract running through June 30, 2031.
Donati takes over for longtime South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner, who announced in September that he was moving to a different role as special adviser to university president Michael Amiridis.
When Tanner made his choice to leave the post, Amiridis said he wanted an athletic director who had experience. Donati fits that bill.
Donati’s “principles and personality made him the perfect candidate,” Amiridis said.
Donati was named TCU’s athletic director in December 2017. During his tenure, TCU’s football team played in the national championship game, where it lost to Georgia in 2022.
Donati will make $1.9 million his first year and will receive a $100,000 increase each subsequent year of the deal.
“We’re going to have fun. We’re going to work hard,” Donati told the board. “I will not disappoint you.”
Donati, 47, will take over a South Carolina athletic program that is excelling in many areas.
Dawn Staley and the women’s basketball team are coming off their third national title since 2017. The men’s basketball team reached the NCAA tournament last season for the first time in seven years.
The South Carolina football team went 9-3 after six straight victories, including Saturday’s 17-14 win over rival Clemson.
And the school has already announced plans to improve the stadium, including adding more premium seating and luxury boxes to bring it on par with other football stadiums throughout the Southeastern Conference.
Before coming to TCU, Donati was with Leigh Steinberg Sports and Entertainment as general counsel and director of player representation. He has also worked at college fundraising positions at Arizona, Washington State and Cal Poly.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
