Athletics Legacy Partners, LLC

Dave Hart is one of college athletics most dynamic and visionary leaders to have ever served the college athletics industry. His breadth of experiences have given him a thorough understanding of the nuances and complexities of major college athletics and the people who manage them. He is all about core values and operating with class and efficiency. Simply put, he is one of the very best in the business.

I am personally euphoric for my longtime colleague Dave Hart and his transition to the role of Executive Leadership Coach! To be sure, our profession will indeed be superbly served by Dave’s extraordinarily seasoned leadership, as well as his exceptionally skilled administrative expertise: not to mention proven innovative insight, entrepreneurial spirit and consummate vision.

Dave Hart Jr. brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that is well-earned through a spectacular 35 year career on campus. Dave's insights on organizational behavior, leadership, motivation and national influence will be truly impactful for any institution.

Dave Hart has always been a man with a mission, a man of influence and a man who promotes excellence; in himself and in those around him. Dave had an outstanding role model in his father, Dave Hart Sr.; football coach, athletic director and Southern Conference Commissioner. He has passed those values down to his son, Rick, current Athletic Director at SMU. Three generations representing some of the best schools in college athletics, in top leadership positions, provides a legacy of leadership, experience and passion. Dave’s unique and comprehensive depth of knowledge and wisdom gained in administration qualifies him as an expert in this arena of athletics beyond just about anyone else in the field.

I really enjoyed working closely with Dave Hart during the three years he and Pam were with us at the University of Alabama. He did a great job in his role here as our Executive Director of Athletics. Dave is a very highly thought of administrator, leader and person in the field of college athletics. I certainly share in that respect for Dave and know what a positive impact he can have on the people he works with in any organization.

There is not much that happens in college athletics that Dave Hart hasn’t already seen. Dave is a confidant to the stars because he has the experiences and relationships to draw upon that one only earns through so many years of sitting in that seat and serving so well.

Dave Hart is a visionary leader whose numerous contributions over a long and distinguished career at important institutions have had a profound impact on college athletics. Dave has always provided a unique perspective, sound judgment, insightful and innovative thinking, enthusiasm and an unwavering commitment to college athletics and to student-athlete well-being. Dave’s intelligence, administrative acumen, broad experience, integrity and capacity for friendship make him a terrific resource for those looking to navigate the immense challenges facing college sports and university athletic departments.

I have been in sports business for 40 years and Dave Hart is one of the classiest, knowledgeable and most respected people that I have had the pleasure to know and conduct mutually beneficial business.

Dave Hart has been a leader and role model in intercollegiate athletics for my entire career. I have always had a great admiration for his leadership style and communication skills. Dave always took the time to encourage and share with me on my professional journey. I was excited to learn about this exciting new opportunity that Dave is providing as we all focus to get better every day.

Dave Hart built a foundation for success by using his experience, strategic planning and vision to navigate the intricacies of intercollegiate athletics and higher education. Dave built champions in every phase of his career through his ability to lead and mentor others. He is an innovator and entrepreneur who set the precedent for today's leadership model in Athletic Administration. Dave stood behind his coaches and staff, building confidence in all through his ability to empower those he surrounded. I became a better coach and leader because of his influence as an administrator and will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have served under Dave’s leadership.

Dave Hart convinced me to join him at Florida State University and it was the best professional decision I ever made. He lives his values and brings out the best in those who work WITH him, not FOR him. His ability to laser-focus and think out-of-the-box make him a terrific executive coach. I am the AD I am today because Dave challenged me to not settle for anything less than the best.

From very early in my career until today, Dave has been a constant source of guidance and support for me. His knowledge, his experience and his willingness to mentor me have proven to be a tremendous resource. He continues to be a great confidant and source of inspiration to me now.

Dave Hart is truly one of the most respected and knowledgeable administrators in collegiate athletics. At the Orange Bowl, we have had the pleasure of working closely with Dave over the years. His 35 years of experience at the highest levels, including leading athletic departments and hiring senior administrators and coaches, makes him uniquely qualified to help develop the next generation of leadership on college campuses.

Dave Hart hired me at Florida State in 1997 and provided me a clear path to success. When I arrived, the program hadn't had a winning season in 10 years. With Dave's support and direction, we went to four NCAA tournaments during his tenure. He lead our athletics program with meticulous attention to detail and all-encompassing organization. He had an overall vision and a plan. He executed a facilities makeover that changed the way we operated. His vision catapulted every athletic program at Florida State to new heights.

Dave Hart is a tireless leader and consummate professional.  He has seen it all in his long and storied career on university campuses, and he has successfully faced the many challenges that have come his way. At Tennessee, Dave fostered a student-centered culture that was focused on the academic success of all of our students, full compliance with the labyrinth of national, conference, and campus regulations, and financial stewardship to protect the future of the university. These things are very important to me as a faculty member, and I was always grateful for Dave’s dependable commitment to our shared mission. He and his excellent leadership team delivered on all counts and certainly set us up for continued growth and success.  Through his inclusive leadership style, Dave consistently empowered his staff to develop themselves professionally and to be fully responsible and accountable for the success of the entire operation. The expectations were always appropriately high, but his support and commitment were always strong. Dave’s legacy can be seen across the intercollegiate athletics landscape, both with his own family and also with the many emerging leaders who have gained from his mentorship over the years. I am grateful that he is continuing to provide leadership and share wisdom from his experiences through this new venture.

Managing a major intercollegiate athletics program is a complex, challenging task. Dave Hart's understanding of all dimensions of the process is truly exceptional. From building and maintaining financial strength to ensuring that athletic programs are in compliance with NCAA and conference rules, Dave Hart is the consummate professional. I served as a university president or chancellor for over twenty years. If I were to return to that role, Dave Hart is the one person I would try to hire.

Dave Hart is a builder. He builds programs and organizations better than anyone I have ever been around. What’s even more important, he builds relationships in a very genuine way. He makes people better and gets everybody on the same page. He’s one of the very best leaders I have ever met. When you go in to see Dave Hart, you had better be on time and prepared because, buddy, he sure will be.

Dave Hart is a creative and innovative leader. His leadership style is driven with a people-first approach. His vision to advance and build centers around student athletes, staff and peers. I've known Dave since I was the Director of Marketing at the University of Kentucky and The Ohio State and while we did not work directly on the same staff, we consulted, networked and advanced years of conversations about building, serving and empowering people to achieve at their best level. Dave will utilize his 35 years of experience to coach, assess and develop the next level of leaders. Dave knows how to challenge people to aim high and achieve inside competitive enterprise.