USF Alum and longtime Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission set to lead Athletics department
 
TAMPA, SEPT. 18, 2025 – Named the first-ever CEO of USF Athletics on September 9, Rob Higgins will be formally introduced in his new role leading the department on Monday, Sept. 22 at the Pam and Les Muma Basketball Center on the USF campus.
 
The introductory press conference will begin at 11 a.m. with doors opening to the Muma Center at 9:30 a.m. Parking will be in Lot 22 E, just south of the Yuengling Center on the USF Campus.
 
The public is welcome to attend and encouraged to register in advance HERE, as space is limited.
 
The event will also be live streamed on ESPN+ as well as USF Athletics pages on YouTube, X and Facebook.
 
Higgins has served as executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission since 2004, successfully positioning the region as one of the nation's premier destinations in sports and entertainment, including hosting two Super Bowls, a College Football Playoff National Championship and a long list of other high-profile events during his tenure.  Higgins, a former USF Athletics staff member, becomes the first USF alum to lead the department.  

See the full announcement on Higgins's selection HERE.
 
About USF Athletics
USF Athletics sponsors 21 varsity teams, with 20 competing at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference, including the recent additions of women's lacrosse and women's beach volleyball. The Bulls' athletic program, founded in 1965, will enter its 60^thseason in 2025-26.
     Nearly 500 student-athletes train and compete in the Tampa General Hospital Athletics District on the east end of USF's Tampa campus. The Bulls have won 154 conference titles across 16 sports, with 82 men's championships and 72 women's championships. Men's tennis and men's soccer lead with 20 titles each, while women's programs have been headlined by women's tennis (14) and volleyball (13).     
      Since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013, USF has secured 36 conference team titles.
Academically, USF student-athletes have achieved a program record of 21 consecutive semesters with a combined GPA of 3.0 or above as of spring 2025. Since 2015, more than 800 Bulls have earned their degrees.
 
Follow South Florida Athletics
For the latest updates from USF Athletics, visit GoUSFBulls.com. Follow USF Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
 
Get your tickets today!
Call 1-800-GO-BULLS (1-800-462-8557) or email BullsTickets@usf.edu to claim your season or single-game tickets. You can also download the USF Bulls app on the Android or Apple stores to purchase tickets and parking. Visit USFBullsTix.com for more information.