Syracuse University has entered a new chapter with the appointment of Bryan B. Blair as its next Director of Athletics. The hire, announced by Chancellor-elect J. Michael Haynie on Thursday, brings one of the industry's most successful fundraisers and program-builders to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Blair’s hire comes as Black leadership in college athletics is seeing record growth. According to the latest data from the NCAA, the number of Black athletics directors in Division I has increased by 25 percent over the past 10 years. In the 2024-25 season, the 65 Black athletics directors at the Division I level represented 18% of all ADs in the division, the highest percentage of any division in the NCAA.

Across all divisions, the representation of Black athletics administrators has seen a 33% increase over the last decade, with 148 Black ADs currently serving in 2024-25. The trend extends to coaching ranks as well, with the number of Black head coaches growing by 32% and assistant coaches by 34% since the 2014-15 season.

Blair, who arrives from the University of Toledo, is a direct reflection of this rising wave of leadership. During his tenure with the Rockets, he oversaw 16 Mid-American Conference championships and grew fundraising by 282%. His ability to navigate the modern landscape of college sports, specifically NIL strategy and innovative revenue generation, has made him a standout executive.

“Bryan Blair is the athletics leader for this moment and for the future of Syracuse University,” Haynie said in a statement. “He is a visionary who approaches the business of college athletics with genuine creativity and ingenuity.”

Before his historic run at Toledo, Blair served as the deputy AD and chief operating officer at Washington State, where he was instrumental in doubling annual fundraising to more than $30 million. He also held significant roles at Rice and the University of South Carolina.

For Blair, the appointment is an opportunity to lead one of the most iconic brands in college sports during a transformative era.

“The opportunity to lead Orange Athletics at this moment is incredibly exciting because the potential ahead is extraordinary,” Blair said. “We will build a modern athletics enterprise that competes for championships, elevates the Orange brand and positions Syracuse as a national leader.”