Staff Directory
Brent Blaylock
- Title:
- Director of Athletics
Brent Blaylock was named Director of Athletics at the University of San Francisco in June 2026, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience across collegiate and professional sports. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for strategic leadership, operational excellence, revenue generation, and a steadfast commitment to student-athlete success.
At USF, Blaylock leads a department of 14 NCAA Division I programs competing in the West Coast Conference. He is committed to advancing the university's Jesuit mission while enhancing the student-athlete experience, strengthening philanthropic engagement, expanding revenue opportunities, and positioning the Dons for sustained success in a rapidly changing era of college athletics.
Blaylock joined USF after serving as Executive Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at Oregon State University, where he led the day-to-day operations of the athletics department and served as a key member of the executive leadership team. As a primary liaison to the Oregon State University Foundation, he designed donor initiatives that increased sport-specific fundraising 94% year-over-year, contributed to securing multiple $1M+ gifts, and the overall department achieving $29M+ in FY25 gifts. As a member of the Revenue Generation Working Group, he coordinated initiatives that would lead to more than $4.2M in new annual revenue.
Blaylock also contributed to the advancement of the OSU Athletic Department through the leadership of strategic planning, budgeting, capital projects, compliance and governance, student-athlete development, and event management initiatives. He oversaw the department’s sport supervisors program and supervised several of Oregon State's flagship programs, including football, baseball, men's basketball, and wrestling.
Prior to Oregon State, Blaylock spent seven years at the University of Arizona, serving in several senior leadership positions, including Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration and Institutional Control. He oversaw the sports administration program, led department-wide strategic initiatives, coordinated major facility projects including the Clements Golf Center, helped guide the university's transition to the Big 12 Conference, and created the Arizona EDGE, the department's comprehensive NIL initiative. He also served as the primary liaison to the Pac-12 Conference for football and men's basketball while supervising the men’s basketball, men’s/women’s golf, and women’s soccer programs.
Before Arizona, Blaylock held administrative positions at the University of Kansas and University of Miami, in addition to working professionally with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Penske Racing.
Blaylock has served on numerous conference and national committees, including being selected to the NCAA Amateurism Fact-Finding and NCAA Division I Football Playing Rules Committees, the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball, Football, and Legislative Committees, the Oregon State Athletics Revenue Generation Working Group, and an assortment of committees across multiple institutions focused on student-athlete well-being and success.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Blaylock was a multi-sport athlete at Jordan High School and graduated as the winningest quarterback and all-time leading passer before attending the University of North Carolina, where he earned a bachelor of arts in management and worked in the UNC football operations office. He also has a master of business administration degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Texas.
Blaylock and his wife, Kate, have one son, Jack.
What They Are Saying About Brent Blaylock:
Bubba Cunningham
Director of Athletics, University of North Carolina
“Great hire by The University of San Francisco. Brent is a gifted administrator with an incredible amount of experience both in the Collegiate and professional space that will support student athletes in today’s environment. He is organized, thorough and strategic—All skills that are needed in today’s college sports. Congratulations to Brent and University of San Francisco.”
Chris Del Conte
Vice President and Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director, University of Texas
“Brent has worked extremely hard and is incredibly prepared for this well-deserved opportunity. He brings a tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge to the University of San Francisco and is a dynamic, engaging leader with an outstanding track record of success. Brent is honest, dedicated and deeply respected, and I have no doubt he will continue to accomplish great things at USF. The Dons got better today.”
Dave Heeke
Former Vice President and Director of Athletics, University of Arizona
“The University of San Francisco has made an outstanding hire in Brent Blaylock! He will provide exceptional forward-thinking leadership during this transformational time for Intercollegiate Athletics. He will position USF for long-term success. This is an exciting time for the Dons!”
Joth Ricci
Oregon State Athletics Board of Advisors
Executive Chair, Burgerville and former CEO, Dutch Bros. Coffee
"Brent is a results-oriented leader who thinks creatively about all aspects of an athletic department. He has a unique ability to be relationships-oriented, a strong decision maker and analytical while being the biggest fan. He will serve USF at a high level."
Tommy Lloyd
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Arizona
2026 Final Four, 2022 AP and 2026 Sporting News National Coach of the Year
“The University of San Francisco has made a great hire in choosing Brent Blaylock to lead their athletic department. He was a tremendous asset to our program when I got to Arizona, helping us build the foundation and the culture to set us up for success and I know he is prepared to do that same at USF.”
Jay Johnson
Head Baseball Coach, LSU
2023 and 2025 National Champion, 2023 Baseball America National Coach of the Year
“USF has made a tremendous hire naming Brent Blaylock as Athletic Director. From a coaches perspective, Brent is one of the best administrators I have worked with. He is incredible at building relationships with coaches and supporting them in every facet of program building. He will make the University of San Francisco and its athletic program the best it can possibly be, by showing up and working intelligently and aggressively. Tremendous hire by the Dons.”
Laura Ianello
Head Women’s Golf Coach, University of Texas
2018 National Champion
“The University of San Francisco has made an outstanding hire. Brent has a unique ability to navigate the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, build meaningful relationships, and position programs for success. He genuinely cares about student-athletes, invests in the success and well-being of coaches, and finds the right balance between support and accountability. I know I became a better coach because of his investment in me and our program. Brent is an exceptional leader, and I have no doubt USF will accomplish great things under his leadership.”
Sean Miller
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Texas
“Brent Blaylock will be a tremendous Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco. I had the pleasure of working alongside Brent for 4 years while coaching at Arizona. His leadership, connectivity, passion and work ethic impacted our program everyday. Brent will create a high-standard environment aligned with High Support across the board. USF is fortunate to have Brent as a leader at this pivotal time in college athletics.”
Wayne Tinkle
Former Head Coach, Oregon State University
“We are absolutely thrilled for Brent! He’s an extremely bright individual with impressive personal skills, and a combination of passion and vision that’s well suited for the current climate of collegiate athletics. As our Sport Supervisor, he was instrumental in helping us navigate all the hurdles to remain competitive. Brent is a true team player, understanding it takes a team, and keeps his focus solely on the University’s mission and the welfare of the coaches and student-athletes.”
Jay Larson
Co-Director of Athletics, University of California, Berkeley
“This is a great fit – I am excited for Brent and for the University of San Francisco. Brent is smart, innovative, student-focused and energized to take on the challenges of running an athletic department in this new era of college sports. I look forward to seeing the Dons thrive with his leadership. Welcome to the Bay, Brent!”
At USF, Blaylock leads a department of 14 NCAA Division I programs competing in the West Coast Conference. He is committed to advancing the university's Jesuit mission while enhancing the student-athlete experience, strengthening philanthropic engagement, expanding revenue opportunities, and positioning the Dons for sustained success in a rapidly changing era of college athletics.
Blaylock joined USF after serving as Executive Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer at Oregon State University, where he led the day-to-day operations of the athletics department and served as a key member of the executive leadership team. As a primary liaison to the Oregon State University Foundation, he designed donor initiatives that increased sport-specific fundraising 94% year-over-year, contributed to securing multiple $1M+ gifts, and the overall department achieving $29M+ in FY25 gifts. As a member of the Revenue Generation Working Group, he coordinated initiatives that would lead to more than $4.2M in new annual revenue.
Blaylock also contributed to the advancement of the OSU Athletic Department through the leadership of strategic planning, budgeting, capital projects, compliance and governance, student-athlete development, and event management initiatives. He oversaw the department’s sport supervisors program and supervised several of Oregon State's flagship programs, including football, baseball, men's basketball, and wrestling.
Prior to Oregon State, Blaylock spent seven years at the University of Arizona, serving in several senior leadership positions, including Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Administration and Institutional Control. He oversaw the sports administration program, led department-wide strategic initiatives, coordinated major facility projects including the Clements Golf Center, helped guide the university's transition to the Big 12 Conference, and created the Arizona EDGE, the department's comprehensive NIL initiative. He also served as the primary liaison to the Pac-12 Conference for football and men's basketball while supervising the men’s basketball, men’s/women’s golf, and women’s soccer programs.
Before Arizona, Blaylock held administrative positions at the University of Kansas and University of Miami, in addition to working professionally with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Penske Racing.
Blaylock has served on numerous conference and national committees, including being selected to the NCAA Amateurism Fact-Finding and NCAA Division I Football Playing Rules Committees, the Pac-12 Men’s Basketball, Football, and Legislative Committees, the Oregon State Athletics Revenue Generation Working Group, and an assortment of committees across multiple institutions focused on student-athlete well-being and success.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Blaylock was a multi-sport athlete at Jordan High School and graduated as the winningest quarterback and all-time leading passer before attending the University of North Carolina, where he earned a bachelor of arts in management and worked in the UNC football operations office. He also has a master of business administration degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Texas.
Blaylock and his wife, Kate, have one son, Jack.
What They Are Saying About Brent Blaylock:
Bubba Cunningham
Director of Athletics, University of North Carolina
“Great hire by The University of San Francisco. Brent is a gifted administrator with an incredible amount of experience both in the Collegiate and professional space that will support student athletes in today’s environment. He is organized, thorough and strategic—All skills that are needed in today’s college sports. Congratulations to Brent and University of San Francisco.”
Chris Del Conte
Vice President and Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director, University of Texas
“Brent has worked extremely hard and is incredibly prepared for this well-deserved opportunity. He brings a tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge to the University of San Francisco and is a dynamic, engaging leader with an outstanding track record of success. Brent is honest, dedicated and deeply respected, and I have no doubt he will continue to accomplish great things at USF. The Dons got better today.”
Dave Heeke
Former Vice President and Director of Athletics, University of Arizona
“The University of San Francisco has made an outstanding hire in Brent Blaylock! He will provide exceptional forward-thinking leadership during this transformational time for Intercollegiate Athletics. He will position USF for long-term success. This is an exciting time for the Dons!”
Joth Ricci
Oregon State Athletics Board of Advisors
Executive Chair, Burgerville and former CEO, Dutch Bros. Coffee
"Brent is a results-oriented leader who thinks creatively about all aspects of an athletic department. He has a unique ability to be relationships-oriented, a strong decision maker and analytical while being the biggest fan. He will serve USF at a high level."
Tommy Lloyd
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Arizona
2026 Final Four, 2022 AP and 2026 Sporting News National Coach of the Year
“The University of San Francisco has made a great hire in choosing Brent Blaylock to lead their athletic department. He was a tremendous asset to our program when I got to Arizona, helping us build the foundation and the culture to set us up for success and I know he is prepared to do that same at USF.”
Jay Johnson
Head Baseball Coach, LSU
2023 and 2025 National Champion, 2023 Baseball America National Coach of the Year
“USF has made a tremendous hire naming Brent Blaylock as Athletic Director. From a coaches perspective, Brent is one of the best administrators I have worked with. He is incredible at building relationships with coaches and supporting them in every facet of program building. He will make the University of San Francisco and its athletic program the best it can possibly be, by showing up and working intelligently and aggressively. Tremendous hire by the Dons.”
Laura Ianello
Head Women’s Golf Coach, University of Texas
2018 National Champion
“The University of San Francisco has made an outstanding hire. Brent has a unique ability to navigate the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, build meaningful relationships, and position programs for success. He genuinely cares about student-athletes, invests in the success and well-being of coaches, and finds the right balance between support and accountability. I know I became a better coach because of his investment in me and our program. Brent is an exceptional leader, and I have no doubt USF will accomplish great things under his leadership.”
Sean Miller
Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Texas
“Brent Blaylock will be a tremendous Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco. I had the pleasure of working alongside Brent for 4 years while coaching at Arizona. His leadership, connectivity, passion and work ethic impacted our program everyday. Brent will create a high-standard environment aligned with High Support across the board. USF is fortunate to have Brent as a leader at this pivotal time in college athletics.”
Wayne Tinkle
Former Head Coach, Oregon State University
“We are absolutely thrilled for Brent! He’s an extremely bright individual with impressive personal skills, and a combination of passion and vision that’s well suited for the current climate of collegiate athletics. As our Sport Supervisor, he was instrumental in helping us navigate all the hurdles to remain competitive. Brent is a true team player, understanding it takes a team, and keeps his focus solely on the University’s mission and the welfare of the coaches and student-athletes.”
Jay Larson
Co-Director of Athletics, University of California, Berkeley
“This is a great fit – I am excited for Brent and for the University of San Francisco. Brent is smart, innovative, student-focused and energized to take on the challenges of running an athletic department in this new era of college sports. I look forward to seeing the Dons thrive with his leadership. Welcome to the Bay, Brent!”
Monday, May 11
Monday, May 11
Monday, May 11
Saturday, May 09
