FGCU welcomes experienced leader as new athletics director
- Jason Hanes
- May 3, 2024
- Athletics
- Contributors: James Greco, Photography
4 – minute read
Colin Hargis, who has two decades of experience as a Division I administrator including 15 years at North Carolina State University, has been named Florida Gulf Coast University’s director of intercollegiate athletics.
“We are thrilled. It was our mission to recruit a high-caliber leader that could lead our incredible athletics program into the future of intercollegiate athletics with a student-centered mindset, and I am confident that is what Colin will do,” FGCU President Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., said. “It is my pleasure, on behalf of the FGCU community, to welcome Colin to the Eagle family.”
“I would like to thank President Timur, Vice President Kitty Green, Dr. Tom Roberts and the entire search panel for entrusting me with this leadership opportunity,” Hargis said.
“My family and I are excited to join the FGCU community and serve our student-athletes and university. The passion and energy demonstrated by President Timur and so many others on campus is infectious. I look forward to being a part of that passion and energy while leading the department to be the best version of FGCU Athletics we can be.”
Hargis joins the Green & Blue after 10 years at NC State, his second stint at the school. While there, Hargis worked his way from associate athletics director for ticket sales and operations to senior associate athletics director for external relations.
As a member of NC State Athletics’ executive leadership team, FGCU’s new athletics director led revenue generation initiatives that produced more than $27 million annually for the Wolfpack. The department set records for revenue growth, including 327% in women’s basketball, surpassing $500,000 for the first time, and 15% growth in men’s basketball as the team exceeded $7.5 million. Hargis also managed the school’s multimedia rights partnership with Learfield and was responsible for NC State’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) efforts. He established an NIL position to enhance student-athlete and department success in NIL endeavors while also implementing student-athlete NIL curriculum and programming.
Hargis served as the sport supervisor for men’s basketball at NC State, which won the 2024 ACC Championship and reached the NCAA Men’s Final Four for the first time since winning the national title in 1983. Hargis previously served as sport supervisor for the Wolfpack’s nationally ranked men’s and women’s tennis teams. During his time with the tennis programs, the women won the 2023 ACC Championship and reached the NCAA National Championship match, finishing as national runner-up.
While at NC State, Hargis served on the Atlantic Coast Conference’s committees for senior external strategy, men’s tennis and fan experience and revenue. Hargis serves as a national board member and executive team member for the National Association of Athletic Ticket Sales & Operations, an affiliate organization of National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, and was selected into the prestigious NCAA Pathway Program for the 2023-24 cohort.
Before NC State, Hargis worked in Tampa at the University of South Florida from 2009-14. He began as an assistant athletics director for ticket operations before being promoted to associate athletics director for ticket sales and operations in 2013. With Hargis, the Bulls generated more than $6 million in sales revenue annually and increased their season ticket base by more than 30% for women’s basketball, softball and men’s soccer.
Hargis began his professional career in athletics at NC State in 2004 as a ticket office assistant before being hired full time as assistant director of ticket operations in 2005, a position he remained at until departing for USF.
A 2004 graduate of Wingate University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Hargis received a master’s degree in parks, recreation and tourism management from NC State in 2006.
A native of Voorheesville, New York, Hargis and his wife, Katie, have two sons, Jacob and Mason.
What they’re saying about Colin Hargis
“Florida Gulf Coast is getting an excellent leader in Colin Hargis. He has been pivotal in our success at NC State, and I expect him to do the same for the Eagles. With his focus on teamwork and student-athlete development, he will elevate the Eagles to new heights.”
– Boo Corrigan, director of athletics, NC State
“In his time as our basketball administrator, Colin became a trusted adviser who formed excellent relationships with both me and our staff but our student-athletes as well. I think Colin will be an excellent athletic director and believe he will do great things for Florida Gulf Coast University.”
– Kevin Keatts, head men’s basketball coach, NC State