Doug Knuth is resigning as Southern Utah University’s athletic director, the school announced Tuesday.
“As much as I have enjoyed my time at SUU, I need to be closer to my family at this time,” Knuth said in a news release. “It has been a privilege to work with the coaches, staff and student athletes. I couldn’t be more excited for the new opportunities that are coming.”
Knuth was hired to lead the Thunderbirds in 2022 after serving as the athletic director at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported in May that SUU had been allegedly under investigation for Title IX issues.
Knuth denied that claim in a post on X.
“False Reporting. Brett is a good reporter but this is wrong,” Knuth wrote on the social media platform.
USA Today reported last year that Knuth’s time in Reno involved multiple complaints of “disparities” in the treatment and support of Nevada’s women’s sport programs.
Those discrepancies included facilities, recruiting, meals, travel, equipment, access to medical treatment and publicity. According to USA Today, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights officially launched an investigation into UNR’s athletics program in 2019 for allegedly violating Title IX.
Knuth denied any wrongdoing.
“All I can tell you is I fully participated and fully cooperated in every review or investigation,” Knuth wrote in a statement to USA Today. “I answered every question. ... Through each and following each, I was never made aware of any wrongdoing and was cleared of all accusations.”
Knuth’s comes after former SUU volleyball coach Kacey Nady resigned from her position last week following four years with the program.
“We are grateful for Doug’s time and commitment to SUU’s Athletic Department,” SUU president Mindy Benson said in a news release. “We recognize Doug’s accomplishments on fundraising initiatives for facility improvements, strengthening the student-athlete experience, and building a vibrant game-day culture. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
In Knuth’s place, the university has appointed Tom Higbee — a retired judge and a 1976 graduate of the university — to serve as the program’s interim athletic director starting July 15.
Higbee was appointed to the 5th District Juvenile Court by former Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt, where he served for more than 17 years. He will serve as the interim athletic director until the university has hired a replacement candidate to fill the position.
