Industry titans react to Pitt hiring AU AD who hired least popular Auburn football HC: 'Home run hire'

Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel couldn't be happier to have overseen Allen Geene's initiation to the university's athletics department. Tennessee's Director of Athletics Danny White is also happy for the Senior Deputy for UT and Ole Miss the past two seasons.

Of course, Auburn football fans couldn't be more confused why the Panthers would bring him on at all after bombing on his major gridiron hire, Bryan Harsin.

But Gabel didn't focus on that negativity.

“Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world,” Gabel said (h/t WPXI). “In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader who exemplifies the Pitt way, and who has all of the experience and intangibles to elevate our athletics program in competition and in the classroom. In my conversations with Allen and with many others who know him well, it is clear that he will lead us successfully into the new world of intercollegiate athletics.”

White took it a step further, calling Greene a "home run hire."

“Congratulations to the University of Pittsburgh and Chancellor Gabel on a home run hire! Allen is one of the most innovative, genuine and competitive leaders we have in college athletics," White prefaced before saying, "We are sad to lose Allen and his family on Rocky Top, but look forward to seeing their transformative impact at Pitt!”

Allen Greene's biggest legacy hire was women's hoops, not Auburn football

Johnnie Harris is carrying the torch for Greene's legacy on the Plains. Bruce Pearl and Butch Thompson were hired before he got there, and firing Gus Malzahn was just as bad of a decision in hindsight as hiring Harsin was.

If the women's basketball team could make waves in an SEC dominated by Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey in recent years, Greene's tenure won't be seen as a complete negative by Tiger fans.