League: NCAAM Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Transactions

Nathan Pine exits as Air Force Academy athletics director

ESPN NCAAM • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 4, 2026, 3:27 AM

Last updated Jul 4, 2026

Nathan Pine exits as Air Force Academy athletics director

Summary

Nathan Pine is no longer the director of athletics at the Air Force Academy, as announced by the school on July 3, 2026. The Department of the Air Force notified the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation that Pine's service in this role was 'no longer accepted.' He will remain under contract with the AFAAC through 2028. Nancy Hixson has been appointed as the interim director. Pine had recently hired Joe Crispin as the men’s head basketball coach after the previous coach's suspension pending an investigation into his treatment of cadets.

Source Links

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Key Details

•Pine's exit was announced on July 3, 2026.
•He will remain under contract with the AFAAC until 2028.
•Nancy Hixson appointed as interim director of athletics.
•Pine recently hired Joe Crispin as the men's basketball coach.
•Previous coach Joe Scott was suspended during an investigation.

Latest Updates

5:08 AMESPN NCAAM — Pine out as Air Force athletic director after 7 years
3:27 AMYahoo Sports — Nathan Pine out as director of athletics at the Air Force Academy

What they're saying

"
Nathan Pine is out as director of athletics at Air Force, the school announced Friday night. In a statement, the school said the Department of the Air Force had informed the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC) that Pine's service in that role was “no longer accepted.” Nancy Hixson will step in on an interim basis.
— Yahoo Sports