- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,192,533
- Reaction score
- 59
Florida Gulf Coast University announced the hiring of former University of Maryland, Baltimore County Athletic Director Brian Barrio as the Eagles' Director of Athletics on Thursday, July 2.
Barrio brings more than five years of experience as an NCAA Division I Director of Athletics to FGCU, along with a career spanning more than two decades in intercollegiate athletics. He replaces Colin Hargis, who stepped down May 1 after two years at FGCU, to take the athletic director position at North Carolina State.
"FGCU Athletics has built tremendous momentum in recent years, and I am excited to continue that trajectory with Brian Barrio as our new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics," said FGCU President Aysegul Timur in a release. "Brian brings a well-rounded background, outstanding leadership experience, and tremendous enthusiasm for the future of the ever-evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. His vision for collaborative leadership, strategic partnerships, community engagement, student-athlete success, and fostering a winning culture makes him the right person to lead our athletics program into its next chapter."
Barrio is the fourth AD in FGCU history, following Carl McAloose, Ken Kavanagh, and Hargis.
"I am truly honored and excited to join Florida Gulf Coast University as its next Director of Athletics," Barrio said in a release. "I am deeply grateful to President Timur and the search committee for their trust and confidence and their belief in my vision for FGCU Athletics. I look forward to working alongside a group of talented student-athletes, exceptional head coaches and dedicated staff as we compete for championships and strive to lift FGCU Athletics to new heights."
Barrio served as Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County for more than four years (2020-2024). During his time with the Retrievers, the department set fundraising records in back-to-back years (2022, 2023). He and his team secured the largest individual gifts in program history for both the Retrievers men's basketball and baseball teams, as well as completing a $5 million naming rights agreement for Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Arena.
In competition, the Retrievers won 11 America East Conference championships, and three head coaches hired by Barrio earned America East Coach of the Year honors.
Barrio was dismissed by UMBC in March 2024 after a U.S. Department of Justice investigation found UMBC violated Title IX by not addressing abuse allegations against swim coach Chad Cradock, who was accused of sexually harassing male swimmers and discriminating against female swimmers. Barrio contended he investigated, identified, and reported the abuse by Cradock to the university, and UMBC used him as a scapegoat. Barrio filed a lawsuit in August 2024 against the university, and they settled out of court in December 2025.
After the settlement, UMBC wrote in a statement, “In November 2020, student athletes reported misconduct by Coach Cradock to Mr. Barrio, and Mr. Barrio responded appropriately to those reports. Mr. Barrio’s contract was not terminated for cause and neither the DOJ nor UMBC identified any action or omission by Mr. Barrio that contributed to the misconduct by Mr. Cradock."
In the interim, he founded Advantage Intercollegiate Athletics, LLC, which provided strategic consulting, revenue auditing, and coaching search advisory services for universities, athletic departments, and coaches.
Barrio came to UMBC from Central Connecticut State University, where he led a 16-sport NCAA Division I athletics department from 2018 through 2020. During his tenure, the Blue Devils won seven Northeast Conference titles. In his first year at Central Connecticut State, departmental fundraising saw a 40 percent increase.
He holds a juris doctorate from the University of California-Hastings College of the Law and earned his undergraduate degree at Boston College.
Barrio will begin his duties at FGCU on July 20.
2024-26, Advantage Intercollegiate Athletics, LLC, Founder/Managing Director
2020-24, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation
2018-20, Central Connecticut State University, Director of Athletics
2015-18, University of Nevada, Reno, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Services
2015, Pepperdine University, Associate Director of Athletics for Administration
2011-15, Pepperdine University, Associate Director of Athletics for Student Services/Compliance
2010-11, America East Conference, Associate Commissioner/Chief of Staff
2008-10, America East Conference, Associate Commissioner for Compliance
2006-08, University of Southern California, Director of Compliance
2005-06, The Ivy League, Compliance Coordinator
2004, Ohio State University, Athletics Intern
2003, Central Connecticut State University, Athletics Intern
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: FGCU hires former UMBC AD Brian Barrio to lead Eagles athletic program
Continue reading...
Barrio brings more than five years of experience as an NCAA Division I Director of Athletics to FGCU, along with a career spanning more than two decades in intercollegiate athletics. He replaces Colin Hargis, who stepped down May 1 after two years at FGCU, to take the athletic director position at North Carolina State.
"FGCU Athletics has built tremendous momentum in recent years, and I am excited to continue that trajectory with Brian Barrio as our new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics," said FGCU President Aysegul Timur in a release. "Brian brings a well-rounded background, outstanding leadership experience, and tremendous enthusiasm for the future of the ever-evolving landscape of collegiate athletics. His vision for collaborative leadership, strategic partnerships, community engagement, student-athlete success, and fostering a winning culture makes him the right person to lead our athletics program into its next chapter."
You must be registered for see images attach
Barrio is the fourth AD in FGCU history, following Carl McAloose, Ken Kavanagh, and Hargis.
"I am truly honored and excited to join Florida Gulf Coast University as its next Director of Athletics," Barrio said in a release. "I am deeply grateful to President Timur and the search committee for their trust and confidence and their belief in my vision for FGCU Athletics. I look forward to working alongside a group of talented student-athletes, exceptional head coaches and dedicated staff as we compete for championships and strive to lift FGCU Athletics to new heights."
Barrio served as Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County for more than four years (2020-2024). During his time with the Retrievers, the department set fundraising records in back-to-back years (2022, 2023). He and his team secured the largest individual gifts in program history for both the Retrievers men's basketball and baseball teams, as well as completing a $5 million naming rights agreement for Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Arena.
In competition, the Retrievers won 11 America East Conference championships, and three head coaches hired by Barrio earned America East Coach of the Year honors.
Barrio was dismissed by UMBC in March 2024 after a U.S. Department of Justice investigation found UMBC violated Title IX by not addressing abuse allegations against swim coach Chad Cradock, who was accused of sexually harassing male swimmers and discriminating against female swimmers. Barrio contended he investigated, identified, and reported the abuse by Cradock to the university, and UMBC used him as a scapegoat. Barrio filed a lawsuit in August 2024 against the university, and they settled out of court in December 2025.
After the settlement, UMBC wrote in a statement, “In November 2020, student athletes reported misconduct by Coach Cradock to Mr. Barrio, and Mr. Barrio responded appropriately to those reports. Mr. Barrio’s contract was not terminated for cause and neither the DOJ nor UMBC identified any action or omission by Mr. Barrio that contributed to the misconduct by Mr. Cradock."
In the interim, he founded Advantage Intercollegiate Athletics, LLC, which provided strategic consulting, revenue auditing, and coaching search advisory services for universities, athletic departments, and coaches.
Barrio came to UMBC from Central Connecticut State University, where he led a 16-sport NCAA Division I athletics department from 2018 through 2020. During his tenure, the Blue Devils won seven Northeast Conference titles. In his first year at Central Connecticut State, departmental fundraising saw a 40 percent increase.
He holds a juris doctorate from the University of California-Hastings College of the Law and earned his undergraduate degree at Boston College.
Barrio will begin his duties at FGCU on July 20.
Brian Barrio's career file
2024-26, Advantage Intercollegiate Athletics, LLC, Founder/Managing Director
2020-24, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation
2018-20, Central Connecticut State University, Director of Athletics
2015-18, University of Nevada, Reno, Sr. Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Services
2015, Pepperdine University, Associate Director of Athletics for Administration
2011-15, Pepperdine University, Associate Director of Athletics for Student Services/Compliance
2010-11, America East Conference, Associate Commissioner/Chief of Staff
2008-10, America East Conference, Associate Commissioner for Compliance
2006-08, University of Southern California, Director of Compliance
2005-06, The Ivy League, Compliance Coordinator
2004, Ohio State University, Athletics Intern
2003, Central Connecticut State University, Athletics Intern
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: FGCU hires former UMBC AD Brian Barrio to lead Eagles athletic program
Continue reading...
