New Alabama AD takes over flourishing athletic department

(AP) — Greg Byrne will take over a flourishing Alabama athletic department with a dominant football program and a men's basketball team that appears to be on the rise.

A big challenge facing the Crimson Tide's newly hired athletic director is to sustain and build upon that success, and avoid the kind of overconfidence or complacency that can lead to a fall-off.

The 45-year-old Byrne inherits a department where Nick Saban has led the football team to four national championships in eight years and Avery Johnson has brought in considerable talent and the former NBA champion is a big name in basketball circles.

The football team's success under Saban has helped the athletic department become flush with cash.

Arizona completed construction of the $72 million Lowell-Stevens Football Facility on his watch and finished the first phase of an $80 million renovation of the McKale Center, home to Arizona's basketball program and athletic department.

"The really historical ride that Alabama football has been on is incredible, and that engages people," Byrne said.