


Despite being named as the University of Louisville's athletic director, Vince Tyra won't be giving up his ownership stake in the city's professional soccer team.

But he will have to follow some minor NCAA restrictions.

Tyra, 52, is a member of the Skyball investment group, which owns a portion of Louisville City FC, the local United Soccer League team. The school and soccer team each confirmed through spokespeople that Tyra will remain part of the group.

The university said it vetted the situation and determined that it was not a conflict for him to own a professional team as athletic director. NCAA rules, however, prohibit him from using his status as a part-owner to go around the governing body's personnel and recruiting rules.

"Such as, he can’t watch (Louisville City FC)-run soccer clinics, camps, or tryouts that include observing HS-aged prospects; he can’t observe (a) youth soccer tournament off-campus even if representing (Louisville City FC) at the event; and he can’t communicate (call/text/write/email/meet with) a high school prospect and/or their parents under the guise of (Louisville City FC) business," Louisville athletics spokesman Kenny Klein said in an email.

More on Vince Tyra

From a kangaroo court to U of L, Tyra always takes the lead
Petrino ‘fired up’ about Tyra's hiring as athletic director

Column: Tyra's confirmation restores order at Louisville

An NCAA spokeswoman said the school would be the authority on hiring information, adding that they "must follow NCAA rules." She said the NCAA does not have any information on similar situations around the country.

Louisville City FC spokesman Scott Stewart said that the team has no concerns over Tyra remaining an owner, adding that "LouCity is thrilled with his appointment."

Tyra was named the athletic director on Monday after speculation that it would happen by month's end. He was first named Louisville's acting athletic director in October after the school suspended and later fired Tom Jurich in the wake of revelations from the FBI's investigation into corruption in college basketball recruiting.

Tyra was previously on the University of Louisville Foundation's board of directors, serving for eight months before the move to the athletic department. He served as the chair of the finance committee of the foundation's board.

His business career spanned more than two decades before he became athletic director. Among his jobs was operating partner of Southfield Capital, a Connecticut-based private equity firm; chairman of the board of Elite Medical Staffing, a Florida-based medical recruiting firm; a corporate adviser for ISCO Industries, a Louisville-based company that sells piping equipment; and board director of Industrial Services of America, a publicly traded metal recycling business.

Tyra's father, Charlie, was the University of Louisville men's basketball team's first All-American and the school's all-time leading rebounder. He is also ninth in Louisville history in career points. Charlie, who died in 2006, had his No. 8 retired by the school, one of four players to receive that honor.

Vince Tyra pitched for the University of Kentucky from 1985-88, serving as a team captain the final two years. He holds a bachelor's degree in health administration from UK. He graduated in 1984 from Trinity High School in Louisville, where he was the school's most valuable player in basketball and baseball his senior year.
