University of Houston fires athletic director Chris Pezman

HOUSTON — The University of Houston announced Thursday that it is parting ways with Chris Pezman, the university’s former athletic director.

“Chris Pezman has led our athletic program through an incredible period of transformation, and we are grateful for his leadership over the past six years,” UH President Renu Khator said in a statement. “He played a pivotal role in our entry into the Big 12 Conference and championed student-athlete success on the field and in the classroom. This was a difficult but necessary decision as we navigate a paradigm shift in the collegiate athletics. I want to thank Chris for his dedication to UH and to our student-athletes. On behalf of the University, I wish Chris and his family the best.

The news comes about six months after UH fired Dana Holgorsen as football coach and hired Willie Fritz to replace him.

Pezman had held the position since 2017, when he was named the program’s 11th athletic director.

UH said in a statement that it is immediately beginning its search for a new AD.

During the transition, Raymond S. Bartlett, UH senior vice president for administration and finance, will serve as interim athletic director.