During his career, Dodds has asserted his expertise and insight through leadership with the NCAA Football Issues Committee (1998-2001), Division I-A Athletics Directors Association (1995-96), NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Selection Committee, (1993-97) NACDA’s Executive Committee (1993-96), NCAA Postseason Football Committee (1986-87), College Football Association TV Committee (1982-96), NCAA Governance Committee (1979-82) and the NCAA Track & Field Rules Committee (1977-81).

As athletic director of the University of Texas, his vision and leadership changed the face of Texas Athletics. Dodds oversaw a $150 million athletics budget and guided the creation of The Longhorn Foundation, which today boasts 13,000-plus donors. More than $293 million has been raised for student-athlete scholarships, academic services, sports medicine, facilities and all other facets of UT Athletics. Under his leadership, the Longhorns claimed 13 National Championships and 102 conference – Southwest and Big 12 – titles in nine different sports, including a national championship in football in 2005-06.

Prior to coming to Texas in 1981, Dodds was the director of athletics at Kansas State. During his tenure, he took the struggling department into the black financially, and led a resurgence in football that eventually led to the school’s first-ever bowl game.

Dodds became head track coach at Kansas State in 1963 and served in that position for 14 years. He guided Kansas State to six Big Eight titles. In honor of his accomplishments with the Wildcats, Dodds was inducted into the U.S. Track Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006, Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Kansas State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. He began his career in sports administration serving as assistant commissioner of the Big Eight Conference for two years.

Dodds graduated from Kansas State in 1959 with a degree in physical education and a minor in psychology.