GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

GCU names Mike Vaught as new vice president of athletics

Oct 15, 2014, 10:04 PM | Updated: 10:10 pm

LISTEN: Mike Vaught - GCU VP of Athletics

Grand Canyon University introduced its new vice president of athletics, Mike Vaught, on Wednesday.

Vaught was the deputy athletic director at Southern Methodist University for the past six years, and was involved in the hire of current men’s basketball coach Larry Brown.

Before working at SMU, Vaught was the assistant athletic director at Rice University, where he worked with then-head football coach Todd Graham, now head coach at Arizona State.

“We will strive for perfection and accept excellence,” Vaught said at the press conference held in GCU’s newly renovated basketball arena.

Vaught is replacing Keith Baker, whom president and CEO Brian Mueller said will continue to stay with the school, although his role is unknown.

Jerry Colangelo, who is lending his name to the university’s business school, said of Vaught, “We have a man who has a firm grasp of what it takes to build a program.”

Mueller called Vaught “the ideal candidate.”

“We just needed somebody at this time with considerable NCAA Division I athletic directorship experience,” Mueller said. “Somebody that has a network and somebody that can help us navigate this very, very difficult landscape going forward. There’s going to be a lot of change, and we needed somebody that had that level of experience to help us navigate that change.”

Mueller also announced a three-year deal with the University of Louisville’s basketball team that includes a game in Phoenix. GCU will also have a home-and-home series with San Diego State University.

During this season, the ‘Lopes will visit Kentucky and Indiana and host Harvard and New Mexico.

Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon Antelopes guard Tyon Grant-Foster #7 during the first half of a men's basketball game ...

Vincent DeAngelis

The Athletic: Grand Canyon a favorite upset pick to break brackets in 2024 NCAA Tournament

Grand Canyon takes on Saint Mary's in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and looks to become the latest 12-seed to upset a 5-seed.

10 hours ago

The Grand Canyon Antelopes celebrate defeating the Texas-Arlington Mavericks 89-74 in the champions...

Arizona Sports

Grand Canyon faces Saint Mary’s in NCAA Tournament 1st round

The Grand Canyon Antelopes will take on Saint Mary's in the NCAA Tournament first round on Friday as a No. 12 seed.

2 days ago

Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats calls to his team in the second half of a semifinal ...

Kellan Olson

Arizona projected as No. 2 seed for NCAA Tournament, GCU 12th

The Arizona Wildcats' two recent losses have still been deemed as costly enough to have them miss out on a NCAA Tournament top seed.

2 days ago

Tyon Grant-Foster...

Damon Allred

Grand Canyon wins WAC Tournament championship, punches ticket to Big Dance

GCU punched its ticket to the Big Dance with a 89-74 victory over UT Arlington in the WAC Tournament championship.

2 days ago

Ray Harrison #0 of the Grand Canyon Antelopes drives past Alex Schumacher #0 of the Seattle Redhawk...

Associated Press

Grand Canyon defeats Seattle U, advances to WAC Tournament final

Grand Canyon is one win away from a spot in the NCAA Tournament after defeating Seattle U in the WAC Tournament semifinals.

3 days ago

Grand Canyon Antelopes guard Tyon Grant-Foster #7 during the first half of a men's basketball game ...

Arizona Sports

Grand Canyon’s Tyon Grant-Foster named WAC Player of the Year

Grand Canyon guard Tyon Grant-Foster was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year on Monday.

7 days ago

GCU names Mike Vaught as new vice president of athletics