Brian Santiago stepped into his first full academic year as BYU's athletic director after succeeding longtime administrator Tom Holmoe in May 2025, inheriting a program that had already enjoyed two consecutive top‑25 finishes in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings.
A Golden Age in Provo
Santiago describes the current era as a 'golden age' for Cougars athletics, citing unprecedented global interest and a clear ambition to climb into the top ten of the Directors’ Cup across all sports. The momentum, he says, is rooted in a combination of tradition and a forward‑looking vision that embraces both heritage and innovation.
The director highlighted the mixed fortunes of specific sports, noting that BYU baseball tied for eighth in the Big 12 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, while the softball team finished tenth out of eleven conference rivals. Despite these setbacks, Santiago remains committed to investing in baseball, believing the program is on the brink of national relevance.
Softball’s challenges are compounded by external factors, particularly name‑image‑likeness (NIL) opportunities that attract top talent to programs beyond the Big 12. Santiago acknowledges the difficulty of retaining elite players but stresses that the university is focused on building the resources necessary to compete at a higher level within the conference.
Beyond the field, the athletic department is also navigating personnel movements that capture national attention. Basketball coach Kevin Young, whose name has surfaced in connection with an NBA head‑coaching vacancy with the Chicago Bulls, has received public gratitude from Santiago for choosing to remain at BYU.
Equally significant is the ongoing legal matter involving former football receiver Parker Kingston. The sexual assault case against Kingston was dismissed, though prosecutors have indicated they intend to refile the charge. Any decision regarding Kingston’s potential return to the football program will ultimately be a university decision, according to Santiago.