Vice President and Director of Athletics

About Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is one of the nation’s most dynamic public research universities, serving more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along Florida’s southeast coast. Established in 1961 as Florida’s fifth public university, FAU has rapidly emerged as a leader in student success, research innovation, and community engagement.

Designated as a Carnegie R1 institution, FAU is recognized among the nation’s top research universities and is committed to delivering academic excellence while preparing students to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

Situated in Boca Raton, one of the nation’s most vibrant and economically prosperous regions, FAU benefits from strong partnerships with leading industries in healthcare, technology, finance, and entrepreneurship. The university offers more than 170 degree programs across its colleges and schools and has built a reputation for innovation, access, and impact. Through a strategic focus on research growth, student achievement, and community engagement, FAU continues to expand its national profile and influence.

FAU is entering an exciting new era under the leadership of President Adam Hasner. Since assuming the presidency in 2025, President Hasner has emphasized a vision centered on academic excellence, operational effectiveness, student success, and elevating FAU’s standing among the nation’s top public universities. His leadership reflects a commitment to building upon the university’s remarkable momentum while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. As FAU continues its ascent, the university is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the opportunities created by South Florida’s growth, the expanding national reputation of the institution, and the increasing visibility of its athletics program.

About FAU Athletics

Florida Atlantic Athletics serves as a powerful front porch to the university and plays a vital role in advancing institutional pride, visibility, and engagement across South Florida and beyond. As a member of the American Conference, FAU sponsors 19 NCAA Division I sports and supports nearly 500 student-athletes who compete at the highest levels while pursuing academic and personal success. The department is committed to providing a transformational student-athlete experience grounded in competitive excellence, academic achievement, leadership development, and community engagement.

Florida Atlantic Athletics has experienced remarkable growth and evolution, establishing itself as one of the most dynamic and ambitious athletics programs in the country. In recent years, the Owls have achieved unprecedented national visibility, highlighted by the historic 2023 men's basketball season that culminated in the program's first NCAA Final Four appearance. FAU's remarkable tournament run captivated the nation and elevated the university's profile on a national stage, demonstrating the potential of Owl Athletics to compete among the country's elite programs.

Located in one of the nation's most vibrant and talent-rich regions, Florida Atlantic is uniquely positioned at the intersection of higher education, athletics, and opportunity. South Florida offers unparalleled access to prospective student-athletes, alumni, corporate partners, and donors, creating a distinctive platform for sustained growth and impact. With a passionate and growing fan base, strong community support, and leadership committed to continued ascension, FAU Athletics is well-positioned to further strengthen its competitive standing and national visibility.

About the Position 

Florida Atlantic University seeks a visionary, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader to capitalize on the significant momentum surrounding Florida Atlantic Athletics, navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics, and position the department for sustained success. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President and Director of Athletics provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and operational oversight for FAU’s NCAA Division I athletics program. The next Vice President and Director of Athletics will inherit a program with strong institutional support, a nationally recognized brand, a highly desirable geographic location, and the chance to shape one of the nation's fastest-rising athletics departments.

As the university's chief athletics officer, this individual will serve as a trusted advisor to the President and a visible ambassador for Florida Atlantic Athletics across the university, the South Florida community, and the national athletics landscape. The role carries leadership and oversight for every facet of the department, including student-athlete welfare and success, competitive excellence, personnel management, revenue generation and fundraising, financial stewardship, compliance, facilities, external relations, and strategic planning.

As a member of the university's senior leadership team, the Vice President and Director of Athletics will help advance Florida Atlantic’s mission, values, and priorities while elevating the visibility and impact of Owl Athletics. Working collaboratively on campus and beyond, the successful candidate will lead this complex enterprise by deepening the connection between athletics and the broader university community, ensuring athletics serves as a catalyst for institutional pride, student engagement, alumni involvement, philanthropic support, and national recognition.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and articulate a compelling vision for Florida Atlantic Athletics that builds upon the department's recent success and positions the Owls for sustained competitive excellence within The American Conference and nationally.

• Provide forward-thinking leadership in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics, including revenue sharing; name, image and likeness (NIL); conference realignment; media rights; roster management; and student-athlete support initiatives.

• Establish and execute strategic priorities that align with the university's mission, institutional aspirations, and long-term strategic plan.

• Evaluate and strengthen organizational structures, operational processes, and departmental culture to ensure accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership team on matters impacting athletics and the university's broader strategic objectives.

Student-Athlete Success & Competitive Excellence

• Champion a student-athlete-centered culture that prioritizes academic achievement, personal development, well-being, and competitive success.

• Ensure student-athletes have access to the resources, services, and support necessary to thrive academically, athletically, and professionally.

• Foster a culture of integrity, sportsmanship, inclusion, and excellence throughout the department.

• Recruit, support, and retain exceptional coaches and administrators committed to the holistic development of student-athletes and sustained competitive success.

External Relations, Revenue Generation & Brand Advancement

• Serve as the chief ambassador for Florida Atlantic Athletics and represent the university with alumni, donors, corporate partners, community leaders, conference officials, media representatives, and national athletics organizations.

• Lead comprehensive fundraising efforts in partnership with the Division of Institutional Advancement, including major gifts, annual giving, capital projects, endowments, and strategic initiatives.

• Cultivate meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, and friends of the university to expand philanthropic investment and engagement.

• Develop innovative strategies to strengthen and diversify revenue streams through fundraising, sponsorships, ticket sales, premium seating, licensing, media opportunities, and other entrepreneurial initiatives.

• Collaborate with campus and athletics communications, marketing, and external affairs teams to elevate the visibility, reputation, and national profile of Florida Atlantic Athletics.

Leadership, Operations & Financial Stewardship

• Provide leadership and oversight for all athletics personnel, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, transparency, and high performance.

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate senior administrators, coaches, and staff while promoting professional growth and succession planning.

• Oversee the athletics department's financial operations, ensuring responsible stewardship of institutional and external resources.

• Develop sustainable business strategies that position the department for long-term success and financial stability.

• Provide strategic oversight of athletics facilities, capital projects, and infrastructure planning to support competitive excellence and an exceptional student-athlete experience.

Governance, Compliance & Institutional Engagement

• Ensure full compliance with NCAA, The American Conference, university, state, and federal rules, regulations, and policies.

• Promote a culture of ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability throughout the department.

• Work collaboratively with the Faculty Athletics Representative, university leadership, and campus stakeholders to maintain institutional integrity and alignment.

• Strengthen partnerships across campus and ensure athletics remains fully integrated into the life, mission, and strategic priorities of the university.

• Serve as a visible and engaged leader throughout South Florida while fostering strong relationships with students, alumni, fans, and community supporters.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• Significant senior leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics administration or a closely related field.

• Experience leading or supporting athletics programs through periods of transformational growth and elevated national visibility.

• Demonstrated success leading complex organizations with multiple sport programs, significant operating budgets, and diverse stakeholder groups.

• Proven ability to lead through the rapid transformation of intercollegiate athletics, including revenue sharing, NIL, conference dynamics, student-athlete support, legislative change, and emerging governance models.

• Strong record of success in fundraising, donor cultivation, revenue generation, and relationship management.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives that advance organizational growth and competitive success.

• Experience managing complex financial operations and aligning resources with strategic priorities.

• Demonstrated success recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing coaches, administrators, and staff.

• Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to inspire confidence and build meaningful relationships across a wide range of constituencies.

• Strong political acumen and the ability to navigate complex institutional, conference, and external environments.

• Proven ability to serve as an effective public representative and ambassador for an athletics program and university.

• Demonstrated success working collaboratively with presidents, governing boards, faculty, advancement professionals, alumni, donors, and community leaders.

• Comprehensive understanding of NCAA governance, compliance, and best practices in intercollegiate athletics administration.

• Unwavering commitment to ethical leadership, student-athlete welfare, academic achievement, and institutional integrity.

• A collaborative, transparent, and relationship-oriented leadership style.

• An entrepreneurial mindset, strategic vision, and ability to identify opportunities that elevate Florida Atlantic Athletics and the university.

• Commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, accountability, and service.

Application Process

Florida Atlantic University invites letters of nomination, applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the university. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted at Parker Executive Search’s website by July 8, 2026. For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

DeLaina Sarden, Principal

Gray McGee, Associate

dsarden@parkersearch.com | gmcgee@parkersearch.com

770-804-1996 ext. 119 | 770-804-1996 ext. 132

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all Federal, State, and Local laws that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected classifications. This policy applies to all employment decisions including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotions, pay practices, benefits, disciplinary actions and terminations.