USF has had seven athletic directors in its history, beginning with Richard Bowers in 1966 and most recently with Michael Kelly.
None of them were USF graduates.
It can be beneficial to bring in a leader from the outside, and Kelly certainly validated that concept. His impact since taking over in 2018 will be felt for decades along Fowler Avenue.
The culture of USF’s athletic department underwent a dramatic transformation for the better under Kelly. To carry that on as he departs to become the athletic director at Navy, it might be time to strongly consider a new leader who bleeds green and gold.
Several candidates come to mind.
Rob Higgins has led the wildly successful Tampa Bay Sports Commission since 2004. He is in USF’s School of Advertising Hall of Fame.
He has worked with USF and other sports teams to bring national events to Tampa, most recently the Women’s Final Four. He is well-known and respected for his business acumen and for his ability to bring people together.
Longtime softball coach Ken Eriksen is another bridge builder. His roots go deep into USF’s soil, back to the days when it was dismissed as a “fallback school” for those who couldn’t get into Florida or Florida State. He played baseball for the Bulls from 1981-84 and took over as head softball coach in 1996.
He has been a tremendous ambassador for the Bulls.
Furthermore, Eriksen has extensive experience both nationally and internationally. He was an assistant on the 2004 national team that won an Olympic gold medal in Athens, Greece.
In 2011, he was named the head coach of the national team.
“Relationships - that’s what I have learned is the most important aspect in teaching lessons to young people,” he said. “If you don’t establish some level of a relationship, then all your lessons do not have an avenue for that lesson to travel.”
Now, if someone has been around USF long enough to understand what a special place it is, it matters less where their degree came from.
If money talks, then USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman, who was named the interim athletic director, will get strong consideration.
At the University of Georgia, Stroman helped coordinate a capital campaign that started with a $1.2 billion (with a B) goal and surpassed it more than a year earlier than the target date.
Kris Pierce has worked in the athletic department since 2021. She serves as the Chief Operating Officer/Senior Woman Administrator.
She directly oversees football, softball, and women’s lacrosse. Pierce is also active with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
Lelo Prado, the Deputy Director of Athletics/Development since 2018, has a long career as a head baseball coach, having served at the University of Tampa, Louisville, and USF.
He is adept at fundraising and works with coaches to ensure compliance and collaboration.
Kelly and his team have USF poised for a future in athletics that once seemed out of reach. It shouldn’t be hard to find a suitable replacement from that group.