Rick Dickson

Director of intercollegiate athletics at three major institutions – The University of Tulsa, Washington State University, and Tulane University – with a career spanning 28 years, Dickson’s leadership skills were highlighted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and throughout his career. A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1972 he graduated from Bishop Kelly High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete, earning All-State accolades in football and baseball. Dickson played defensive back from 1972 to 1976 for The University of Tulsa, where he began his career in athletic administration as interim athletic director in 1988. In 1989, Dickson was appointed director of athletics at the age of 34.

He spent six years as athletic director at his alma mater, where he was instrumental in forming a football scheduling alliance that evolved into Conference USA and the expansion of the Western Athletic Conference. He played a lead role in the campaign to attract an invitation to the 1991 Freedom Bowl as an independent collegiate football team with the city-wide Take Tulsa Campaign. His hiring of men’s basketball coach Tubby Smith resulted in the school's first-ever Sweet 16 appearance in history and launched a decade of success in men’s basketball.