FGCU seeks next athletic director for new era of college sports

LEE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — FGCU is beginning its search for the next leader of its athletic department at a time when the job is about much more than wins and losses.

As Colin Hargis announces his departure from the school on Monday, the next athletic director will be stepping into a role shaped by NIL, the House settlement and the broader business and compliance demands of college sports. 

FGCU’s athletics staff directory already reflects that shift, with senior leadership roles in athletic operations, compliance and NIL support now part of the department structure.

“One of the support services for student athletes we're really proud of is creating a dedicated role to support student athletes in finding NIL opportunities,” said now interim athletic director Lauren Leister.

Leister said conversations around those challenges facing the department are already happening on campus.

“It’s something that we talk about frequently in partnership with a lot of individuals across campus, including university advancement and our coaches,” Leister said.

FGCU has also already acknowledged the financial reality tied to the new landscape. In a December 2024 board recap, the university said every Division I school, including FGCU, is responsible for a portion of the House vs. NCAA settlement, and that FGCU would forfeit about $300,000 per year for the next 10 years from NCAA and ASUN distributions.

Leister said the next athletic director will need to keep that work moving.

“The next person coming in certainly will have to build on that,” Leister said. “And we feel really confident as an athletic department that we have a handle on it. We have strategic priorities that certainly take all that into account. And we just feel really prepared for the future.”

For FGCU, the search is about finding more than a traditional department head. It is about finding someone ready to lead in a college sports landscape where business, strategy and compliance have become just as important as competition.