BALTIMORE — UMBC has selected Brian Barrio to continue the momentum of Retriever Athletics as Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation effective January 2020.
Barrio comes to UMBC after serving as Director of Athletics at Central Connecticut State University and in other leadership positions at the University of Nevada, Pepperdine University, University of Southern California, and the America East Conference. At each stop, Barrio has implemented academic programs and student-athlete admissions policies that led to significant student-athlete GPA increases.
Barrio will direct UMBC’s 17-sport NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program, all campus recreational programs (intramurals, club sports, recreational activities), and the physical education program.
“It was clear to me throughout my conversations with everyone involved in the process that UMBC has a bold and clear vision for how athletics can move the needle on the university’s strategic goals,” Barrio said. “I am thrilled to be trusted to help execute that vision over the coming years. The tremendous coaches and student-athletes already in place at UMBC will make this an exciting transition for me.”
“UMBC has made a strong commitment to intercollegiate and recreational athletics—a commitment that will benefit all UMBC students and will foster a vibrant student life,” Barrio said. “A university that makes that commitment while remaining steadfast in its support for student-athlete academic success and personal development—that’s the total package for an athletics director.”
“Thank you to President Hrabowski and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Greg Simmons for this opportunity. I look forward to serving the UMBC community and helping this wonderful campus continue to innovate and grow.”
During Barrio’s leadership at Central Connecticut, the Blue Devils won four Northeast Conference titles and the CCSU baseball program won the university’s first-ever NCAA Tournament contest. In just one year in New Britain, Barrio increased athletics fundraising by 44 percent, including the launch of a new athletic donor club and a third-party corporate sales agreement to increase sponsor engagement.
“I am delighted to welcome Brian Barrio to UMBC,” said UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski. “His values and experience are impressive. He will be an outstanding ambassador for UMBC Athletics, and a leader who will make an immediate contribution to the campus.”
UMBC is riding a crest of athletic and academic success since the early part of the decade.
• The men’s basketball program produced the NCAA’s first-ever “16-over-1” victory in men’s basketball as Ryan Odom’s Retrievers defeated Virginia, 74-54, in March of 2018. The team has recorded 20 or more victories in three consecutive years for the first time in school history.
• The men’s soccer program won America East titles in four of five years to start the decade, and advanced to the NCAA College Cup in 2014.
• The women’s soccer program kicked off several miraculous runs by Retriever teams, by going from “worst-to-first” in 2013, capturing a league title and competing in their first NCAA Tournament.
• The swimming and diving programs have dominated conference competition and produced Olympian Mohamed Hussein and current U.S. national team member Emily Escobedo.
• Most recently, the men’s lacrosse and softball teams overcame adverse circumstances to win 2019 America East Championships. Ryan Moran’s lacrosse squad won four consecutive road elimination games to advance to the Round of 16. First-year head coach Chris Kuhlmeyer’s softball team, picked to finish last in the league, shocked the nation by winning the conference title and playing top-ranked Oklahoma in Norman in the NCAA’s first round.
• In the fall of 2018, for the third consecutive semester, UMBC’s student-athletes combined to produce a department record 3.14 grade-point average. Over 66 percent of the department posted GPAs of 3.00 or higher. Graduate student Joe Sherburne, from the men’s basketball team, was selected as the 2018-19 Academic All-America Team Member of the Year, becoming the first student-athlete in any sport in conference history honored as the Member of the Year.
Prior to his tenure at Central Connecticut State, Barrio served as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Intercollegiate Services at the University of Nevada. He played a major role as part of the Nevada senior management team during a run of unprecedented success, including two Mountain West Conference men’s basketball championships, a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and the opening of a $3- million, state-of-the-art, men’s basketball facility. Barrio served as Pepperdine University’s Associate Director of Athletics from 2011 to 2015. He managed the department’s business, compliance, academic, and student-service operations and served as the sport administrator for the school’s nationally ranked baseball, women’s soccer, men’s volleyball, and men’s water polo programs.
The Old Lyme, Connecticut, native worked in the area of compliance at the America East Conference (2010-2011) and the Ivy League (2005-06), and was the Director of Compliance at the University of Southern California (2006-08). During his three years at the America East, he served as the Chief of Staff and oversaw day-to-day operations and budget. He also served as the conference representative on the NCAA Legislative Council before moving to Pepperdine.
“The search committee made up of faculty, staff and students from across campus did an excellent job in identifying a new leader to continue the momentum of Retriever Athletics, while building our club, intramural, and recreational activities,” said UMBC Vice President for Institutional Advancement and committee co-chair Greg Simmons. “Brian really understands the role athletics and recreation can play in building vibrant campus life, driving enrollment, and helping connect people to the university. And he wants to win, too! I am really excited to partner with him as we start the new year.”
Barrio earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston College in 1999, where he was a team manager for the men’s basketball team and an intern in the sports information office. Following internships at Central Connecticut and Ohio State, Barrio went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of California-Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Barrio and his wife, Katie, have three children: Casey, Marcus, and Fiona.
— UMBC Athletics press release