IRVING, Texas (Texas Tech Press Release) –Texas Tech University Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt has been named the second Chairman of the College Football Selection Committee, announced by CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock on Thursday. University of Arkansas Vice-Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long rotated out of the chair’s role after two years.
“Kirby has established himself as a natural leader,” Hancock said. “His personality, his background as a Football Bowl Subdivision student-athlete and his experience make him a perfect fit to chair the committee. Jeff Long set a high bar for excellence and we know Kirby will also be a terrific chairman.”
As chairman, Hocutt will set the selection committee’s agenda, run its meetings and serve as the spokesman for the committee along with Hancock. Hocutt begins his second year on the CFP Committee in 2016.
“College Football continues to have a significant impact in my life and I am humbled and honored by this appointment,” Hocutt said. “Serving on the committee this past season was a tremendous experience. The thoughtful consideration, professionalism and integrity exhibited by the members of this committee speak to the level of success the College Football has shown in its brief history.”
Hocutt is in his fifth year as Texas Tech’s 13th athletics director. He has a combined 24 years of intercollegiate athletic leadership experience, including 12 combined years as an athletic director at Texas Tech (2011-current), Miami, Fla. (2008-11) and Ohio (2005-08). Hocutt has also worked in athletic leadership stints in the athletics departments at Oklahoma (1998-2005) and Kansas State (1996-97). He has also served on a variety of NCAA Division I football, leadership, recruiting and bowl committees.
A Sherman, Texas native and Big 12 representative, Hocutt has a strong college football background as he lettered four years at Kansas State University (1991-94) under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder. As a linebacker, he led the Big 8 Conference in tackles and earned all-conference honors as a junior. In 1993, The Sporting News selected Hocutt as one of the top-20 most underrated players in the nation. He served as a team captain his senior season.
The CFP Selection Committee is responsible for selecting the top four teams in the playoff and assigning them to national 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.
