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Notes from Omaha
Del Conte Named Director of Athletics
Even though Rice baseball did not win this
year’s College World Series, the 2005–06 team
had a great season overall. In their fi rst year in
Conference USA, the Owls won the conference
championship. That’s Rice’s 11th consecutive
conference title, spanning three conferences.
The team’s fi nal record of 57–13 is the third-
highest win total and second-highest winning
percentage in Rice history. The Owls were
ranked No. 1 in the nation in at least one poll
for 11 weeks (not consecutive) and were the
consensus No. 1 in all four national polls for
fi ve straight weeks.
Rice entered the NCAA playoffs with the best
record in the country (53–10) and seeded No.
2 in the 64-team fi eld—an enviable position.
Chris Del Conte, after serving as senior has raised more than $120 million.
But in the fi rst game of the Houston Regional at
associate athletics director at the University
In 2003, Del Conte was named one of three
Reckling Park, the Owls almost stumbled against
of Arizona in Tucson, has been appointed Rice
senior associate athletics directors, and his du-
Prairie View A&M, the best base-stealing team
University’s new director of athletics.
ties were expanded to include overseeing media
in the nation. After surviving that near-upset
relations, business operations, and external af-
with a come-from-behind 6–5 victory, the Owls
“Chris Del Conte is recognized as one
fairs and co-managing the day-to-day operation
then had to defeat a tough and confi dent Baylor
of the most capable administrators and
of the university’s 19 sports programs. He be-
team two times. In the Super Regional, Rice
leaders in college sports,” says Rice presi-
came responsible for the supervision of all areas
needed all three games to win the best-of-three
dent David Leebron. “His dedication to
of external operations, which now generate
series against Oklahoma, the best fi elding team
the overall development of the student–
$28 million in annual revenue, and he worked
in the nation.
athlete and his understanding of the value
directly with all coaches, department heads,
After recording one of the best seasons in
of intercollegiate athletics in an academic
and staff and participated in the hiring of
school history, the Owls suddenly went fl at in
setting are ideal for building upon the no-
coaches and other personnel. He also oversaw
Omaha, scoring just nine runs in four games. That
table success Bobby May achieved during
all contracts, including corporate sponsorships,
was good enough to win the fi rst two games:
his 17 years as athletics director.”
broadcast rights, sporting events, and website
a 6–4 victory over Georgia and a 3–2 nail-biter
Del Conte succeeds May, who an-
agreements.
over Miami, thanks to phenomenal pitching by
nounced his retirement in April. May led
Bobby Tudor ’82, a Rice alum and trustee
sophomore Cole St. Clair and senior Bryce Cox.
Rice to its status as one of the most re-
who chaired the search committee for the new
But then the season ended in stunning fashion
spected intercollegiate sports programs in
athletics director, noted the committee focused
with two consecutive shutout losses—5–0 and
the nation after becoming athletics direc-
on fi nding someone who could build on the
2–0—to Oregon State. The Beavers’ pitching
tor in 1989.
broad level of academic and athletic excellence
was simply masterful, and the Rice hitters
“Rice’s paramount academic reputation
that Rice has achieved and also reach beyond
couldn’t muster any kind of threat. And while
made this job very appealing,” says Del
Rice to the broader Houston community. “We
the Rice pitching staff acquitted itself quite
Conte, who will be the university’s 14th
were very impressed with Chris’s high level of
well, the Owls’ normally reliable infi eld made
athletics director. “President Leebron’s vi-
energy, enthusiasm, and drive and also with his
several costly errors. With its elimination, Rice
sion for the university and the reputation
commitment to the notion of the student–ath-
fi nished the College World Series tied for third
of Rice academically and athletically were
lete as we see it at Rice,” Tudor says.
place with Cal State Fullerton.
in line with my value system.”
Del Conte has a master’s degree in educa-
One of the most interesting Rice players is
When Del Conte joined the University
tion administration from Washington State
senior pitcher Eddie Degerman, who transferred
of Arizona’s Department of Intercol-
University, where he served as assistant athletics
to Rice after his freshman year at the University
legiate Athletics in December 1999, he
director for external operations before going
of California at Irvine in order to get more play-
oversaw all aspects of athletic fund de-
to Arizona. He has a bachelor of arts degree in
ing time. Degerman has turned into a terrifi c
velopment, including raising revenue to
sociology from the University of California at
pitcher: all-conference, all-America, Academic
support the completion of a $13 million
Santa Barbara.
All-America, and outstanding player of the NCAA
athletics pavilion and more than $6.5 mil-
Del Conte is married to Robin Ward, an as-
Regional at Reckling, where he recorded 14
lion for student–athlete scholarships. In
sistant professor at the University of Arizona’s
strikeouts in a crucial win against Baylor. He
2002, his responsibilities were expanded
College of Education. They have two daugh-
also was a fourth-round pick in the major league
to include overseeing the ticket offi ce,
ters, Sienna and Sophia.
draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
marketing, corporate sales, and trade-
marks and licensing. He implemented a
—George . W ebb IIIW
capital campaign known as “Campaign
Arizona for the Student–Athlete,” which
52 Rice Sallyport
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