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Florida Gulf Coast University officially welcomed Brian Barrio as its new athletic director Monday, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Eagles.
Barrio becomes the third athletic director to lead FGCU Athletics in just over two years, stepping into the role during one of the most transformative periods in college sports.
Despite the recent leadership changes, Barrio said he's inheriting a department built for long-term success.
"It's not one of those situations where you're coming in and trying to fix something," Barrio said.
"There's a foundation here, a really excellent foundation.
I also believe that FGCU Athletics' greatest days are ahead of it.
That's a really exciting combination to step into something where the frame is there, the bones are good and we can really build." Barrio brings more than two decades of experience in collegiate athletics to Estero, including his tenure as athletic director at Central Connecticut State and the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
He said FGCU's rapid growth, along with the Southwest Florida community, made the opportunity especially appealing.
"This is a community, a school and really an area that is growing explosively," Barrio said.
"It's really exciting to come to a place that's got a growth mindset, where people are optimistic and with good reason.
I think there's a lot of pieces that I can help bring to take us to the next level." As college athletics continues to evolve through changes such as name, image and likeness opportunities and the transfer portal, Barrio said his focus will be on steady improvement.
"It's not going to be one dramatic moment where we find success," Barrio said.
"It's going to be day after day, little improvements, getting better every single day until we look up one day and go, 'We got further than we ever thought FGCU could.'" He also said success will be measured by more than championships.
While competing for titles remains a priority, Barrio said developing student-athletes and strengthening the university's connection with Southwest Florida are equally important.
"We need everybody here to feel like this is their home team," Barrio said.
"It's incumbent on us to build that and to tell that story." FGCU men's basketball head coach Pat Chambers said Barrio's vision and leadership stood out immediately.
"I think he's a great fit," Chambers said.
"He's going to try to get these students back to games and get them engaged.
He checked every box when you're looking for the next step." Chambers also pointed to one word Barrio repeatedly used during his introductory remarks.
"He's going to be relentless," Chambers said.
"He said that word, and I love that word.
We all need to be relentless in this pursuit of success, whether it's on the court, the field or in the classroom.
I think he's got the playbook from where he's been in his past." Barrio said his immediate priorities include listening, building relationships across the athletic department and positioning FGCU to compete at an even higher level.
"FGCU Athletics is going to get better," Barrio said.
"That's what we're going to do.
It's a choice.
We're making it.
And I can't wait to get to work with all these folks here." DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet.
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