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Deal Ends Hart's Reign As FSU Athletic Director

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Dave Hart, who guided Florida State's athletic department through its greatest growth spurt the past 13 years, envisioned finishing his career at FSU. That all changed last summer when FSU president T.K. Wetherell informed Hart via a letter that his contract would not be renewed when it expired in January 2009.

So, rather than continue in his lame-duck status, Hart finalized details of what he termed 'a very amicable separation agreement' Thursday morning in Wetherell's office, officially ending his reign as FSU's athletic director. As part of the agreement, Hart will receive a one-time payment of $475,000 before Jan. 31, and he will be paid additional contract incentives exceeding $50,000. He will remain on FSU's athletic department staff until Dec. 31.

'I will leave here with a feeling of accomplishment and pride,' said Hart, who became emotional at times during a 35-minute news conference. 'Would I have liked to finish my contract? I would have. But again, that was not the fairest thing to the people I've been privileged to work with.'

Hart, 58, took over as FSU's athletic director in 1995 after spending 12 years at East Carolina. During his tenure, Hart spearheaded major fundraising campaigns to upgrade FSU's athletic facilities, including the construction of a $10 million men's and women's basketball training facility. After he leaves FSU, Hart said he will work as a consultant to ACC Commissioner John Swofford next spring until he finds a more permanent position.

'He's done an excellent job while he was here,' FSU football coach Bobby Bowden said after Thursday's practice.
Wetherell did not attend Hart's news conference. He is holding a news conference this afternoon to announce an interim AD, expected to be state Rep. Bill Proctor, a former FSU football player with long-standing ties to Wetherell.

Hart said the school's ongoing investigation of an academic fraud scandal that involves 23 FSU student-athletes had no impact on his departure.

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