In the midst of multiple athletic campaigns, Florida Atlantic University will be on the hunt for a new Athletic Director. Brian White, who had been the Owls’ AD for eight years, left his five-year contract early on Monday to join Virginia Tech University.

As of Monday, White is no longer with the Owls athletic department. White has led the FAU Athletic Department since 2018, which has made great strides in fundraising, corporate sponsorships, and attendance, including a record $26.4 million in philanthropic giving in 2024-25.

White was also instrumental in FAU men’s basketball’s Final Four run in 2023, hiring coach Dusty May three weeks after arriving at the university. May recently became the head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and will become the first head coach in program history to coach in the NBA.

“I am deeply grateful to Rector Jim Miller, President Tim Sands, Lynne Doughtie, and the entire search committee for the trust they have placed in me to lead Virginia Tech Athletics,” White said in Virginia Tech’s Press Release. “Virginia Tech is one of the distinctive brands in college athletics, and the passion of Hokie Nation, the commitment of university leadership, and the momentum already underway make this an extraordinary opportunity.”

FAU President Adam Hasner thanked White for his time as FAU’s AD, as he posted on Instagram, “We are grateful for his contributions and the lasting impact he has made on FAU, and we wish Brian, Paige, and their family continued success in this next chapter. They will always have a home here in Paradise.”

White will owe FAU $625,000 per a clause in his contract which states “$625,000 if terminated during the third year of this agreement.”

FAU has not yet hired an interim AD and will soon be in search of one.

Mikai Datilus is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] or DM him on Instagram @mikaidat for more information on this and other stories.