I had literally pushed the “publish” button on a column on Wednesday morning, contrasting USF leadership stability with the turmoil at the University of Florida, when — BOOM!
Pete Thamel’s tweet that USF VP for Athletics Michael Kelly was the top candidate for the same job at the Naval Academy crossed my screen. It became official Wednesday afternoon when the announcement came that Kelly had accepted the job.
Well, that first column was embarrassing – or was it?
I don’t blame Kelly for taking a prestigious job like Navy, especially since his father attended the Academy and Kelly grew up in the area. However, his departure doesn’t signal that a bad moon is rising at USF. I stand by my statement that USF’s leadership, from the president’s office on down, is solid and will handle this well.
I’m sure there’ll be no shortage of top candidates for this job, and that’s because Kelly worked so well with trustee head Will Weatherford and USF President Rhea Law to spearhead the phenomenal growth in the athletic department.
Actually, I believe Weatherford would be a home-run replacement, but it’s probably a stretch to think he’d agree to take over. He is the managing partner of Weatherford Capital, an investment management firm he started with his brothers. In the meantime, USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman will serve as interim AD.
"MK has forever changed our campus and our community for the better, and I am proud to call him my friend and to have worked with him to move USF Athletics forward," he said. "Bulls Nation is stronger thanks to his efforts, and we wish him and the Kelly family nothing but the best in Annapolis."
If USF wants to stay in-house, there’s a strong supporting staff under Kelly.
There's Stroman, of course. Deputy Athletics Director Kris Pierce oversees the day-to-day operations of the athletic department and is responsible for strategic planning.
Kelly took over in 2018 after Mark Harlan left for Utah. That was right around the time USF football was on the verge of becoming a hot mess. He fired Charlie Strong at the end of the 2019 season and followed that with the ill-fated decision to hire Jeff Scott.
Without belaboring the point, Kelly took full ownership of the disastrous hire. However, let’s also not forget that the general belief throughout college football was that hiring Scott was a great move.
I was among those who thought it was an inspired hire.
Kelly hired Amir Abdur-Rahim as the men’s basketball coach, and we know how well that worked. There are high hopes for new coach Bryan Hodgson as USF moves on after Coach Amir’s tragic passing.
Under Kelly, sports such as cross-country, track, and men’s golf have flourished after years of neglect. He doubled USF’s athletic budget to $100 million and also raised more than $100 million outside of that. Hiring baseball coach Mitch Hannahs was a strong move.
The $22 million Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility and a $3 million football locker room renovation happened on his watch. USF added women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball this season, bringing the number of sports to 21.
And, of course, the long-discussed on-campus stadium is no longer a concept. It will open in 2027.
“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity came along at a time that feels right for me and my family,” Kelly said. “This decision isn’t about leaving South Florida—it’s about the chance to serve a place that’s long been meaningful to me.
"I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together here and incredibly grateful for the relationships, achievements, and momentum that will continue to carry USF forward. I am confident that with this team—and in alignment with the university—even better days lie ahead for the Bulls.”
Yes, USF is still in the Group of 5 and longs to join a power conference. The work Kelly did here will be a large reason why the Bulls will be at or near the top of the list for the next round of conference realignment.
So, yeah, I’ll stand by my statement that USF’s strength is in its leadership stability. The foundation that Michael Kelly helped build will ensure that.