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Four things to track at Chris Del Conte's annual athletics town hall

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•about 9 hours•

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Matthew McConaughey, Chris Del Conte
Matthew McConaughey, Chris Del Conte (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

When the Texas athletic director talks, especially in the ever-changing world of college athletics, it’s worth listening. Longhorns athletics director Chris Del Conte will speak to the public on Wednesday as part of his annual Athletics Town Hall.

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Here are four things to track when the man leading Texas varsity athletics takes the microphone.

What is Texas’ plan for House settlement revenue sharing?

Hirings and firings, fundraising, and the future of the College Football Playoff are the types of topics typically managed by athletic directors whether that’s at a school like Texas or at one like North Texas. But for the Longhorns, the Mean Green, and everyone in between, the way intercollegiate athletics look is about to undergo its largest change in history.

If the House v. NCAA settlement is approved by Judge Claudia Wilken on April 7, then schools will be able to directly pay student-athletes without penalty for the first time in the history of college sports.

Schools will be able to dedicate around $20 million toward direct student-athlete compensation. This isn’t covering the cost of attendance or providing $5980 for academic achievement. This is direct payment to student-athletes for playing sports.

There are a number of considerations and details that will have to be ironed out after the settlement, with much of that taking place in other courtrooms or even on U.S. Capitol Hill. But there are aspects of the new House world that Del Conte can shed light on already.

There’s nothing (yet) that details how schools have to divvy up that $20 million.

So, how much of it at Texas will go to football? To men’s basketball? To the women’s basketball team? To the swimming and diving program? To soccer?

These are questions Del Conte will have to figure out if the settlement is fully approved on April 7 but waiting until then to decide would be folly. Del Conte undoubtedly knows what the split looks like, and Wednesday provides him with the opportunity to share that with the public.

While the Texas One Fund is not an organization under his direct purview, he is closely linked to it as a result of his position at Texas. Will he be able to speak on the future of the Longhorns’ collective? What does that future look like working with Texas in a revenue sharing world?

Del Conte has the opportunity to disclose this information on Wednesday.

Are there any facility upgrades in the works?

There will be the normal questions.

When is Campbell-Williams Field going to be grass? Del Conte will probably say the same thing he always does: when the new practice facility is complete.

Will the Disch go to grass for the first time in its history? Del Conte could say the same thing he always does: the infrastructure for grass at the Disch is not there and would require a multi-year renovation.

There may be other questions about the two bat-and-ball stadiums east of IH-35, especially as Texas welcomes more Southeastern Conference crowds to UFCU Disch-Falk Field and McCombs Field. Both have seen player facilities updated, but the fan side of things has not been changed in some time.

For both baseball and softball, Comal St. provides a problem. Del Conte may speak on that topic, or address what the department is looking to accomplish in the coming years.

Weak points

The Texas Longhorns won the 2023-24 Learfield Directors’ Cup, an honor that reflects the excellence achieved by the entire athletic department. With two national titles, three runner-up finishes, and postseason appearances nearly department-wide, there were great successes for Texas to celebrate during its final year as a member of the Big 12.

Things are going well in the SEC, with multiple teams winning or competing for conference championships and making it deep into NCAA competitions. But there are a couple of weak points that Del Conte will likely be asked about should he put an open mic in front of those in attendance.

The men’s basketball program is at risk of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019 (there was no tournament in 2020). The Longhorns men’s and women’s cross country programs failed to make the podium in the SEC Championship. The men’s team didn’t even make the NCAA Championship, and the women finished last in the team portion of the NCAA competition.

What is Del Conte willing to say publicly about Rodney Terry and the Longhorns as they try to traverse the bubble and make the NCAA Tournament (especially in light of what Vic Schaefer is doing on the women’s side)?

Edrick Floréal is on an extremely cold seat as he’s coached standout individuals that took center stage not just on the 40 Acres but also at the Paris Olympics. He has also brought national titles to Austin in recent years. But how does Texas revitalize middling cross country programs?

Those may not be points Del Conte brings up himself, but he’ll certainly be asked about men’s basketball and potentially cross country if fans are given the chance to ask him questions.

New sports?

Texas added beach volleyball in recent years, bringing another NCAA sport into the athletic department. Could Texas add another?

Del Conte has said on the record that any new sport would likely be a women’s sport in order to satisfy Title IX requirements, meaning it’s doubtful the Longhorns begin sponsoring varsity men’s soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, wrestling or water polo.

But could Texas add another women’s sport? Gymnastics is wildly popular in the SEC, with nine teams sponsoring a program including Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, and Kentucky. Texas has the facilities to host gymnastics, even if it isn’t in the Moody Center. It seems the logical choice if the Longhorns wanted to add another varsity sport.

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If that’s in the cards, as well as many other aspects of the athletic department’s future, it will be revealed Wednesday when Del Conte addresses Longhorn Nation.

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