Brian Barrio, who has more than two decades of experience in intercollegiate athletics, will join Florida Gulf Coast University on July 20 as the new director of athletics. He brings more than five years of experience as an NCAA Division I athletics director to the Eagles.
“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.
“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.”
“I am truly honored and excited to join Florida Gulf Coast University as its next director of athletics,” Barrio said. “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 athletics director at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County from 2020 to 2024. During his time with the Retrievers, the department set fundraising records in back-to-back years and produced the highest total corporate sponsorship revenue year in the university’s history. He and his team secured the largest individual gifts in program history for the men’s basketball and baseball teams and completed a $5 million naming rights agreement for the university’s arena.
During his time at UMBC, Barrio led a department that achieved record-setting academic outcomes, including a school-record department-wide grade point average and 10 perfect NCAA Academic Progress Rate scores. 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.
From 2018 through 2020, Barrio led a 16-sport NCAA Division I athletics department at Central Connecticut State University. During his tenure, the Blue Devils won seven Northeast Conference titles. In his first year at the university, departmental fundraising increased 40%.
Barrio holds a juris doctorate from the University of California-Hastings College of the Law. He earned his undergraduate degree at Boston College.