STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Greg Byrne will replace Larry Templeton as athletics director at Mississippi State University.<br />
<br />
MSU spokeswoman Maridith Geuder made the announcement Thursday after the state College Board approved Byrne's hiring.<br />
<br />
Templeton had served in the position since 1987. MSU President Doc Foglesong decided last year not to renew Templeton's contract after it expires on June 30.<br />
<br />
Foglesong made the recommendation of Byrne to the College Board following a little over a month of interviewing candidates.<br />
<br />
Byrne has served as Mississippi State's associate athletic director for development and external affairs, where he ran the Bulldog Club, one of the two private foundations that exist to support Southeastern Conference member's athletics.<br />
<br />
Aside from one short stint, Byrne has spent his entire professional career working in fundraising in the athletic departments of major Division I schools.<br />
<br />
Byrne is the son of Bill Byrne, the Texas A AD who also served decade-long stints as the athletic director at Nebraska and Oregon.<br />
<br />
Greg Byrne graduated from Arizona State and worked at both Oregon State and Kentucky.
