Texas Tech University Athletics
Hocutt Named To College Football Playoff Selection Committee
February 09, 2015 | General
Feb. 9, 2015
Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt has been appointed to the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee, as announced earlier this morning by CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby nominated Hocutt and the CFP management committee ratified his nomination. He replaces former West Virginia athletics director Oliver Luck who recently vacated his place on the committee by taking a position at the NCAA.
"We are delighted to welcome Kirby to the selection committee," Hancock said. "He will fit right in, because he is a thoughtful, hard-working person of the highest integrity."
"Kirby has established himself as a leader in intercollegiate athletics administration and this appointment is most appropriate and deserved," Texas Tech President Dr. Duane Nellis said. "His leadership within the Big 12 Conference and nationally has advanced Texas Tech's athletic profile, and through this opportunity, college football will benefit from those characteristics."
The CFP Selection Committee is responsible for selecting the top four teams in the playoff and assigning them to semifinal games as well as placing the next group of teams in the remaining New Year's bowls. The committee meets in-person beginning midway through the football season and produces a weekly ranking of the top 25 teams leading up to the final selections.
"I am excited and honored to join the College Football Playoff Selection Committee," Hocutt said. "I look forward to working with such a distinguished group of individuals in what has instantly become one of our nation's most successful sporting events. I sincerely appreciate the confidence that Commissioner Bowlsby and the CFP management committee have placed in me with this appointment."
-- Kirby Hocutt
The former student-athlete has a strong background in collegiate football beginning as a four-year letterman at linebacker for Kansas State University under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder. He led the Big 8 Conference in tackles and earned All-Big 8 honors as a junior. In 1993, The Sporting News selected Hocutt as one of the top 20 underrated players in the nation. He served as a team captain his senior season.
Hocutt currently is the chairman of the NCAA Division I Football Recruiting Subcommittee and serves as the Big 12 representative on the NCAA Division I Leadership Council.
Hocutt was named Texas Tech's 13th athletics director on March 2, 2011, after spending three years in the same position at the University of Miami where he oversaw $26 million in new projects. His first opportunity as an athletics director at the Division I level was with Ohio University in 2005. Hocutt also served stints in the athletics departments at Kansas State and the University of Oklahoma.
In 2010, Hocutt was recognized with Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal Forty Under 40 Award, as one of the most promising young executives in sports business. He served as chairman for the Lubbock March of Dimes Campaign in 2013.
Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt has been appointed to the #CFBPlayoff Selection Committee. pic.twitter.com/0MbVoOxyZ4
- CFB Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) February 9, 2015
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt named to CFP Selection Committee, replacing Oliver Luck http://t.co/h9TzBcEuGT (USATSI) pic.twitter.com/4WB4fHN3xU
- CBS Sports CFB (@CBSSportsCFB) February 9, 2015
Don't worry Art Briles, newest CFP committee member Kirby Hocutt knows "what fixin' means" http://t.co/qRYqLHqqBh pic.twitter.com/ndZMKdpGME
- SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) February 10, 2015
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt is replacing Oliver Luck on the CFB Selection Committee.
- Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) February 9, 2015
Back in December, I wrote that Kirby Hocutt would be a great choice for the playoff committee. Bowlsby agreed: http://t.co/D87EBn7IvT
- Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) February 9, 2015
Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt named to CFP Selection Committee, per Big 12 release. Takes spot vacated by Oliver Luck.
- Pat Forde (@YahooForde) February 9, 2015
. @TechAthletics AD @kirbyhocutt has been appointed to the @CFBPlayoff Selection Committee - http://t.co/M90n7wzpWU pic.twitter.com/2c5f1d7vtT
- Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) February 9, 2015
