Western Kentucky President Dr. Timothy C. Caboni’s tenure as chair of the Conference USA Board of Directors came to an end on Thursday.

Caboni, the longest-tenured chair in CUSA history, has served in his role since October 2021, when North Texas announced its departure from Conference USA.

“President Caboni’s leadership in his role as chair of our Board of Directors has proved invaluable,” CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said in a news release. “His strategic vision and guidance during a period of significant transition in Conference USA has been critical to transforming our membership for continued success.”

Caboni helped provide stability to a conference that underwent a significant transformation during his nearly-three-year tenure. As the landscape of college athletics has shifted dramatically since he was appointed vice chair in June 2021 and later took over as chair. Caboni helped lead the conference through challenging times and leaves his post with CUSA set to return to 12 member schools by July 1, 2025.

“I am thankful for my tenure as chair of Conference USA and am proud of what we have achieved during that time,” Caboni said in a news release. “We successfully overcame substantial challenges and enhanced both the profile and competitiveness of CUSA, setting the stage for its ongoing success. I would like to thank my fellow CUSA presidents, Judy MacLeod, and all conference staff for their indispensable support.”

During Caboni’s time as chair, CUSA has added Liberty, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State and New Mexico State. Kennesaw State will join the league on July 1 and Delaware and Missouri State are set to join CUSA on July 1, 2025.

“President Caboni’s leadership was vital during his tenure as chair of Conference USA’s Board of Directors, not only to the conference as a whole, but to Western Kentucky University,” WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart said in a news release. “As the conference underwent a significant makeover during the last few years, WKU benefited greatly from having President Caboni heavily involved in all league matters. He departs his position as chair with Conference USA well-positioned for continued success into the future, with a stable 12-school membership once again, starting in 2025.”

While Caboni served as chair, Conference USA also struck a new multimedia rights deal which emphasized accessibility, opportune scheduling models, national linear and digital exposure and increased revenue. The multi-year agreement between CUSA and its longtime partners, CBS Sports and ESPN, started during the 2023-24 season.

During the first year of the agreement, WKU athletics saw a media exposure value of nearly $40 million, with nationally televised games in football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and softball. In addition, over 150 Hilltopper games and events appeared on ESPN+, including more than 60 originating from the WKU campus.

With Caboni serving as chair, Conference USA also signed a multi-year agreement (which began in 2024) for the City of Huntsville and Propst Arena to host the CUSA Basketball Championships in Huntsville, Alabama.

Tickets now on sale for Tops’ road football gamesAway game tickets for Western Kentucky’s 2024 football season are now available for purchase.

Fans interested in purchasing away game tickets can do so online or by calling the WKU ticket office at 1-800-5-BIGRED.

Tickets will be issued at a later date by the WKU ticket office and will be allocated based on Hilltopper Athletic Foundation priority order.

The Hilltoppers have six road games on the 2024 regular-season schedule, starting with a 6 p.m. CT showdown with Alabama on Aug. 31 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

WKU will also play at Middle Tennessee on Sept. 14, at Boston College on Sept. 28, at Sam Houston on Oct. 16, at New Mexico State on Nov. 9 and at Liberty on Nov. 23.

Game times for the Hilltoppers’ final five road games have not yet been announced.

Game-by-game prices for WKU’s 2024 away games are as follows:

Alabama: $60

Middle Tennessee: $24

Boston College: $50

Sam Houston: $10

New Mexico State: $15

Liberty: $35

Western Kentucky football season tickets for the Hilltoppers’ six home games are still on sale, starting as low as $55.

Some seats require an HAF donation. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets can do so online or by calling the WKU ticket office.

WKU went 8-5 in 2023 and capped off the season with a come-from-behind, 38-35 overtime victory over Old Dominion in the Famous Toastery Bowl.

WKU is one of only 16 teams in the nation to play in a bowl game each of the last five seasons and one of only seven programs nationally to win a bowl game in each of the last three years.