Dear USF Community,
I am happy to announce that Brent Blaylock will join the University of San Francisco as the university’s athletic director, effective June 9.
Brent has more than 20 years of experience working in the athletics programs of large state universities, including University of Kansas, University of Arizona, and, most recently, as executive deputy athletic director at Oregon State University. Prior to that, at the University of Arizona, he served as senior associate director of athletics for administration and institutional control and as associate athletics director for compliance.
He has extensive expertise in creating a high-performing environment for student-athletes through collaborative leadership teamed with a commitment to strong fundraising. Brent will help guide USF as we advance in the world of name, image, and likeness (NIL) funding in athletics and will provide strategic leadership on recruiting at a time when the NCAA transfer portal has fundamentally transformed university athletics across the country.
I look forward to working with Brent to accelerate USF’s national reputation as one of the top Jesuit powerhouses, with a storied legacy of athletes dating back to the ’51 Dons football team and the back-to-back national champion basketball teams in 1955 and 1956, led by Bill Russell. Together, we will elevate USF Athletics through increased philanthropic engagement, expanded revenue, and by providing outstanding experiences for student-athletes, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, donors, and fans.
"I am honored to lead the University of San Francisco athletics department during this transformative period for college athletics,” Brent said. “I am thankful for the confidence that President Aceves and the Board of Trustees have placed in me and for their unwavering commitment to student-athletes. I look forward to expanding upon the university's culture of excellence and supporting the performance of our student-athletes and coaches, as well as taking advantage of new opportunities for growth and success.”
Brent graduated from the University of North Carolina with a management degree and minor in coaching education. He holds a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Texas and an MBA from the University of Arizona.
In his new role at USF, Brent will lead a department with 250 student-athletes, 14 head coaches, and 22 assistant coaches. I am so grateful for the work of Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins, who has served as interim athletic director since October. Having stepped into this role during a period of loss for our community, Stephanie provided steady, capable leadership marked by thoughtful decision-making and a deep commitment to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. Her guidance has been instrumental in helping the department move forward with purpose, and we are both grateful and fortunate to have her at USF, where she will be deputy athletic director for administration and facilities.
“This program is well-positioned to be bold, forward-thinking, and adaptive, while honoring the university's rich athletic and Jesuit traditions,” Brent said. “I am excited to build relationships with student-athletes, staff, campus partners, donors, and the San Francisco community as we begin this pivotal new chapter for USF Athletics."
Please join me in welcoming Brent, his wife, Kate, and their 7-year-old son, Jack, to the USF community.
Kindly,
Salvador D. Aceves ’83, EdD ’95
President