Craig Angelos Photo Gallery

Craig Angelos Director of Athletics Craig Angelos was named Director of Athletics at Florida Atlantic University in July 2003, assuming oversight responsibility for the institution's 18-team intercollegiate athletic programs and more than 500 student-athletes.

Angelos moved at a rapid pace to take the program to new heights, by working with President Brogan, FAU students and staff. His philosophy for running a successful intercollegiate athletic program is built on four fundamental principles: institutional control, academic excellence, fiscal integrity and winning championships. He immediately led the young athletic department through an entrance into the Sun Belt Conference (one of the 11 1-A conferences) as well as planned and led the institution's transition from NCAA Div. I-AA to I-A. Angelos has since witnessed the football program grow to the point of having its first home sellout, a conference championship and two bowl appearances berth--both victories (New Orleans in 2007 and Motor City in 2008). FAU became the first football team in the Sun Belt Conference to earn consecutive-bowl victories and FAU was the only team in the state of Florida to win bowl games in both 2007 and 2008. The team's quick assent onto the national stage has been chronicled through television packages that Angelos initiated. These packages saw the team appear on ESPN, Fox Sports and CSS. More than four million viewers watched FAU's bowl victory in 2008. Under Angelos' watch the Owls became the fourth university in the state to have an all-sports apparel deal with Nike, joining Florida, Florida State and Miami. This deal came on the heels of a brand identity campaign that was chaired by Angelos, a campaign that has created a revenue stream for both the University and athletics.

In 2005-06, the bar of success was raised with seven of the 10 sponsored FAU sports advancing to postseason play. In all, FAU captured five conference women's championships and was one of just eight schools nationally to capture five or more women's championships. During Angelos' tenure, the Owls have captured 14 conference titles and FAU has been represented in postseason competition 18 times. Four individuals earned All-America status while five earned Academic All-America honors. The department's commitment to a holistic approach to student-athlete excellence shows with an average of 35% of the student-athletes maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports honoring FAU as an Academics and Sports Outreach and Community Service Program Honor Roll member in 2005. This was made possible in part due to his creation of a Champs/Lifeskills program that assists the student-athletes development in the areas of academic and athletic excellence, personal and career development and community service.

Perhaps, most significantly, under Angelos' leadership the department has been able to develop a balanced budget plan and has witnessed a steady rise in community involvement and donor commitment. His complete renovation of fundraising measures has resulted in annual gift revenue increases of nearly 400% since 2004. Special events revenue has increased by 250% in the same time period. Angelos' efforts to market the teams, build a fan base and showcase the University on national television have greatly enhanced the overall image of the athletics program and the University. He has continued to develop a close administrative and head coaching staff with 50% of the administrative staff coming on board since 2003 and eight head coaches being selected by Angelos. One of his most high-profile searches culminated in the 2005 when Matt Doherty, former Notre Dame and North Carolina head coach was hired returning the former National Coach of the Year to the college ranks. In just one season, men's basketball revenues tripled and attendance more than doubled. His most recent hire, Mike Jarvis, former head coach at Boston University, George Washington and St. John's, assumed the helm of the basketball program in the spring of 2008. Basketball attendance has continued to climb while baseball opened the 2008 season with a record crowd, which was surpassed in mid-season with a standing-room only crowd.

Almost immediately after his arrival at FAU, Angelos initiated a comprehensive facilities master plan. His plan's implementation began in the fall of 2006 with a $4.5 million track-and-field complex that opened in the spring of 2007. In the fall of 2008, the volleyball and basketball teams returned to the arena after an $11 million renovation that included new locker rooms, suites and chair-back seating. Perhaps the gem of the master plan includes a plan Angelos brought to the table as an "Innovation Village" that has now been approved by the Board of Trustees. Innovation Village will include a 30,000-seat football stadium, 2,400 new bed spaces in student housing and retail and parking facilities that will benefit the entire University.

Prior to coming to FAU, he was the deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer at Indiana University. While there, he supervised many aspects of the athletic department including the football program and was instrumental in negotiating a Nike contract for 23 of its 24 sports. Previously, he was at the University of Miami (FL) for eight years, serving in a variety of positions but primarily as the second in command. Prior to Miami, he spent three years at the NCAA as a legislative assistant interpreting the association's rules and regulations. He has served as an intercollegiate athletics administrator for nearly 18 years.

A graduate of the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, NE, Angelos worked for a short time in a mid-sized litigation firm in Los Angelos, CA. However, he ultimately decided to combine his legal background and his love for athletics and gravitated towards a career in intercollegiate athletics. During his undergraduate years at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, Angelos was the starting first baseman on the varsity squad. He later played for one year in the Italian professional baseball league in Buttrio, Italy.

The 47-year-old Angelos and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 24 years. The couple has six children Alayna (20), Alexis (17), Abigail (14), Austin (12), Aaron (9) and Alivia (6).