University of Louisiana Monroe President Nick J. Bruno announced Thursday the appointment of Nick Floyd of East Carolina University as ULM Athletic Director.
Since 2001, Floyd has been in athletics administration at ECU in Greenville, N.C. In 2004 he was named executive associate director of athletics.
“Nick has 33 years in collegiate athletics management,” said Bruno. “He brings the knowledge and experience to lead the ULM program to a new level of excellence.”
In a statement Floyd said, “I am honored to be selected as director of athletics at ULM and look forward to working with our outstanding coaches, staff, and student-athletes. My wife Elizabeth and I are also ready to become a part of not only the ULM family, but the greater Monroe community as well. I appreciate the confidence that Dr. Bruno has placed in me to assume this challenge, and I want to thank everyone involved in the search process that made this day possible.”
Richard Giannini, executive director of the Bahamas Bowl, served as a consultant to the ULM AD search committee.
“After reviewing at length a very experienced and excellent pool of over 50 potential candidates, Nick Floyd's name rose to the top of the list. He has had incredible experience on the institutional as well as conference levels. Nick thoroughly understands the financial challenges facing all collegiate athletic programs and he totally comprehends the processes it takes to have a well-organized and successful athletics department,” Giannini said.
Floyd's passion for college sports and education is part of his upbringing. His father was a football coach and administrator and for 12 years the athletic director at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. His mother was a lifelong high school educator.
“With this background there was never any question in my mind about what I was going to do with my professional career,” Floyd said.
At ECU, Floyd's responsibilities include financial and operational oversight of a $40 million per year athletics program. With his leadership, there were record-setting donations, ticket sales and attendance.
During his career at ECU, Floyd served as senior associate director of athletics (2001-03) and interim director of athletics (2003-04).
Mike Slive, former commissioner for the Southeastern Conference, congratulated ULM on the choice of Floyd.
“I have known Nick for over 20 years, both personally and professionally. He is a man of unquestioned integrity and honesty, coupled with a rich background in athletic administration. ULM could not have chosen a better man to lead its athletics program in the years ahead.”
Floyd is familiar with the region, having spent 12 years at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. His athletic management roles at USM included assistant athletic director (1986-88), associate athletic director (1988-94) and senior associate athletic director (1994-98).
Prior to joining ECU, Floyd served as Conference USA Associate Commissioner (1998-2001) in Chicago, Ill.
Floyd earned his Bachelor of Science in Administrative Management from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., (1982) and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi in Oxford (1985). While at Ole Miss, Floyd was a graduate assistant to the athletic director (1983-85).
“I am now more than ready to take this next step and apply my skills, knowledge and experience that I have gained during my lifetime to the ULM program in a manner that will be productive for the university and the greater ULM community,” Floyd said.