Watch video of Bryan Blair's News Conference
TOLEDO, Ohio - University of Toledo President Gregory Postel introduced incoming Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics
Bryan Blair at a news conference in Savage Arena Thursday afternoon.
"Bryan brings a wealth of experience to this role, from strategic planning to budgeting to diversity and inclusion to academic success initiatives," UToledo President Gregory Postel said. "I'm excited to see what he will do, working with our outstanding coaches and athletic staff, to lift our Rockets to even greater heights."
Blair, the chief operating officer and deputy director of athletics at Washington State University, will begin at UToledo on May 1, following current athletic director Mike O'Brien's retirement on April 30 after more than 20 years as the Rockets' leader.
Blair will be the 14
th athletic director in the history of the University of Toledo and the first African-American to hold the post. At age 37, he will also be the youngest athletic director in the NCAA-FBS.
Bryan Blair and his family meet Rocky the Rocket.
"I want to thank Dr. Postel for entrusting me to lead our athletic program as we build upon the established success within UToledo Athletics," Blair said. "This department has a storied history and immense potential to grow, creating an even more vibrant campus and sense of community. When you combine that foundation with Dr. Postel's visionary leadership and the thriving city of Toledo, it creates an exciting environment to positively impact the lives of student-athletes and for our department to reach unprecedented heights, together. As a former student-athlete, I know the power of sports firsthand. College athletics has the ability to educate, transform lives and unite in a way that little else does. My family and I look forward to joining the Toledo community."
Currently, Blair leads the team of sport administrators responsible for day-to-day oversight of Washington State's 17 varsity sports programs as well as overseeing several departmental units focused on student-athlete success. Among his responsibilities is managing the university's Nike contract, serving as the chief diversity officer in athletics, and overseeing the development and execution of WSU's athletic strategic plan. While in his current role, the Cougars have excelled on and off the court, competing for NCAA championships, setting cumulative GPA records, doubling yearly fundraising to more than $30 million, and securing 50 of the top 70 largest gifts in WSU athletic history.
Prior to his tenure at WSU, Blair was the senior associate athletic director at Rice University from 2014-18, which was his second stint at that school. He also served at Rice for the first time as a compliance coordinator from 2011-12. While serving as senior associate AD at Rice, he served as a member of the athletics department's senior leadership team, while overseeing sports medicine, strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, compliance, and seven of the department's 16 NCAA Division I sports programs. In addition, Blair served as the advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and helped secure a multimillion-dollar partnership, one of the largest in Rice Athletics history.
In between his stints at Rice, Blair worked at the University of South Carolina as the assistant director of compliance services from 2012-14. He also worked at the NCAA Offices in Indianapolis as an academic and membership affairs postgraduate intern from 2010-11.
A rising star in intercollegiate athletics, Blair was selected to serve on the National Sports Forum's Steering Committee and the Board of Directors for the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association.
In 2016, Blair was chosen for the nationally acclaimed D1A Institute (now "LEAD1"). The goal of the institute is to help the participants, nominated by their universities' athletics directors, be better prepared to move into the role of athletics director. After the Institute, Blair was recognized by LEAD1 President and CEO, Tom McMillen, as a "Future Leader of College Sports."
Blair was selected among 25 senior-level administrators from across the country to participate in the prestigious 2017 NCAA Pathway Program. The program is designed to elevate those currently in senior-level positions within athletics administration to the next step in reaching their goal of becoming directors of athletics. The year-long program is an intensive, experiential learning opportunity for selected participants representing NCAA Divisions I, II and III.
Blair holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina and earned his undergraduate degree in history at Wofford College. He played four seasons as a nose tackle for the Wofford football team. He was a team captain as a senior in 2006 and was named the team's Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Blair and his wife, Jenna, have two children, Brielle (3) and Beau (1).
Bryan Blair's File
Education:
• Law Degree, South Carolina '10
• Bachelor's Degree in History, Wofford College '07
Administrative Experience:
2018-22 Deputy Athletic Director/COO, Washington State University
2014-18 Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, Rice University
2012-14 Assistant Director of Compliance Services, University of South Carolina
2011-12 Compliance Coordinator, Rice University
2010-11 Academic and Membership Affairs Postgraduate Intern, NCAA
College Football Playing Experience:
2003-06 Wofford College
Family:
Wife, Jenna, daughter Brielle (3), son Beau (1)
University of Toledo Athletic Directors
1923-25 O. Garfield Jones
1925 Pat Dwyer
1926-28 Claude H. Watts
1936-42 Clarence "Doc" Spears
1944-50 Dave Connelly
1950-54 A.G. "Barney" Francis
1955-57 Forrest England
1957-63 James W. Long
1963-71 Francis X. Lauterbur
1971-86 Vern Smith
1987-96 Allen R. Bohl
1996-2001 Pete Liske
2002-2022 Mike O'Brien
Incoming Vice President and Director of Athletics, Bryan Blair, Press Conference
