Bryan B. Blair, vice president and director of athletics at The University of Toledo since 2022, has accepted an offer to serve as Syracuse University’s next athletic director.
Recognizing Blair for leading a transformational era for Rocket Athletics, UToledo President James Holloway thanked him for his service and positive impact on the campus and community.
“Under Bryan’s leadership, our student-athletes have achieved historic competitive success, including 16 Mid-American Conference championships, while maintaining academic excellence with record-setting GPAs and the MAC Institutional Academic Award, in addition to unprecedented sweeps of the Reese and Jacoby trophies,” Holloway said. “He has been unwavering in his dedication to supporting our student athletes, our University community and our greater Toledo region during his time as a Rocket. We are a better university for having Bryan on our team, and I wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter.”
Bryan B. Blair, UToledo’s vice president and director of athletics since 2022, has accepted an offer to serve as Syracuse University’s next athletic director.
Holloway said UToledo will begin a national search for its next athletic director immediately and will maintain strong leadership of the athletic department during the transition.
“Serving as the director of athletics at The University of Toledo has been one of the great honors of my professional life,” Blair said. “I am deeply grateful to Dr. Gregory Postel, President Holloway, our Board of Trustees, our incredible coaches and staff, our alumni and fans, and most importantly our student-athletes, whose commitment to excellence made our time in Toledo so incredible.
“Toledo is a special place with passionate fans, tremendous community support and a bright future ahead. Jenna, Bri, Beau and I will be forever appreciative of how this Rocket family welcomed us with open arms. I will always be proud to be a Rocket and look forward to cheering on the continued success of this outstanding program.”
Guided by his “Rise Together” strategic plan, Blair united the campus and community around his bold vision for the future of Rocket Athletics to “transform lives while elevating the university and community through the power of sports.”
Among Blair’s many accomplishments, UToledo earned the Cartwright Award, which recognizes the MAC’s top overall athletics program, three consecutive times. Women’s rowing was added as the University’s 17th varsity sport through a collaboration with Toledo Metroparks that strengthens community ties. He hired coaches to lead football, women’s basketball, volleyball, swimming, soccer, softball, golf and rowing.
Last year, UToledo led the Mid-American Conference in attendance for football, volleyball, and women’s basketball, and finished second in men’s basketball.
Blair’s commitment to improving the fan gameday experience included a new student tailgate experience, having the student-built Rocket Motorsports racecar lead the team on the football field, and the introduction of a “Touchdown Tank” after each Rocket touchdown. The Glass Bowl experience was expanded to a stadium concert with “Glass City Live” last summer, featuring the Zac Brown Band and drawing nearly 18,000 fans to campus. This past year, Blair also launched the Venture Courtside Club in Savage Arena, transforming unused storage space into a premium hospitality experience.
Blair led historic fundraising success. He secured more principal gifts during the past two years than in the previous 17 years combined. Annual Rocket Fund support increased by 71%, and the 1923 Society surpassed $13.6 million in pledges. He also secured corporate partnerships with KeyBank and Marco’s Pizza.
“Serving as the director of athletics at The University of Toledo has been one of the great honors of my professional life,” Blair said.
In 2024, Blair was named to the Sports Business Journal’s prestigious Forty Under 40 list, affirming his standing as one of the most influential and future-ready leaders in sports and entertainment.
“Under his exceptional leadership, we have seen groundbreaking facility enhancements, innovative technology integration, and a philanthropic surge that has redefined what is possible for our institution,” Holloway said.
Prior to his appointment at UToledo, Blair served as Deputy AD and Chief Operating Officer at Washington State University. He also served in roles at Rice University, the University of South Carolina and the NCAA Office in Indianapolis. He earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College, where he played four seasons of Division I football and was a team captain and Defensive Lineman of the Year.
