Byrne's biggest accomplishment may have been the hire he didn't have to make. The AD successfully negotiated an extension with basketball coach Sean Miller after he interviewed at Maryland in 2011. The commitment, which included a commitment to better facilities and charter flights for his team, cemented a bond between the two men and their families.
At 45, Byrne was one of the most energetic, forward-thinking ADs wielding power in the Pac-12 — he had a voice in the business of college sports as well as the NCAA at large. Arizona will surely feel his absence, but so will the conference.