Brian Santiago Named BYU Director of Athletics

PROVO, Utah — Following a national search, Brigham Young University has appointed Brian Santiago as the university’s next director of athletics. 

Santiago’s appointment was formally announced on Wed., May 14, at 10 a.m. MST by BYU President C. Shane Reese at a press conference that was broadcast on BYUtv.

Santiago comes to the director of athletics role after decades of experience within BYU Athletics, where he distinguished himself as a leader committed to BYU’s mission and the success of student-athletes, staff and coaches. 

“We are excited to build on the forward momentum and legacy of Tom Holmoe, who is retiring, with the appointment of Brian Santiago as BYU’s next director of athletics,” Reese said. “Brian has a track record of leadership and an ability to lead BYU Athletics as we navigate the complex and rapidly evolving waters of college athletics. It’s become clear to me throughout this search process that Brian will seek to strengthen BYU’s academic and spiritual mission, and he understands how it blesses the lives of our student-athletes.”

 

The future is bright.

Opening statement from our new Athletic Director, Brian Santiago.

pic.twitter.com/sl7OjXQBdE

— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) May 14, 2025

 

Santiago began his career at BYU in 1997, joining the men’s basketball coaching staff. He then moved into athletic administration, including serving as an assistant and associate athletic director. In 2008, Holmoe appointed Santiago as a senior associate athletic director. In 2017, he was appointed as the deputy athletic director. 

“I am humbled and honored for this responsibility and privilege to work alongside our coaches, staff, student-athletes and all of Cougar Nation,” Santiago said. “BYU is one of the premier athletic programs in the country, but it is so much more than that—it is part of BYU’s sacred mission. We are blessed with incredible leadership in President C. Shane Reese and Vice President Keith Vorkink, as well as the university’s Board of Trustees chaired by the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are here to build student-athletes academically, athletically, spiritually and to prepare them to go make a difference in the world. As an athletic department, we stand united in this charge.”

BYU completed its second year in the Big 12 athletic conference, winning two NCAA national championships in both women’s and men’s cross country. BYU men’s basketball and football finished ranked no. 13 in the AP Poll. BYU is also currently in the top-10 across all NCAA Division I men’s and women’s athletics in the most recent Learfield Directors' Cup standings. According to its mission statement, BYU Athletics aims to develop “successful, faith-based, influential scholar-athlete leaders who are ambassadors for good.” BYU Athletics is funded exclusively through the revenues and donations that come to the athletics program.

A graduate of Provo High School, Santiago earned an associate’s degree in accounting from Utah Valley and a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in international business from Fresno State. He also graduated with an MBA from BYU's Marriott School of Management. Santiago played basketball at both Utah Valley and Fresno State, where he led the Western Athletic Conference in assists and three-point shooting percentage. He was later named to the pre-selection Olympic team for Puerto Rico.

Santiago served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Dominican Republic. He and his wife Kimberly are the parents of four children.