Upcoming Event: Baseball at Memphis on April 12, 2026 at 12 p.m.
12 p.m.
Baseball
at Memphis
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Diamond Diary by Kevin Cooney
3/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 28, 2002
The King is Dead... Long Live the King!
Thank God I am speaking metaphoricaly.
Dr. Anthony James Catanese, former second baseman at Rutgers University, has resigned as president of Florida Atlantic University. He will take the same position at Florida Tech in Melbourne, FL.
The intial shock is beginning to wear off the campus community and everyone is now involved in the guessing game as to why. Why leave Boca Raton for Melbourne? Why a rapidly growing major university for a small, private technical school? A virtual palace is nearing the end of construction to serve as a residence for the FAU President? Football has begun, basketball has reached the point of national recognition, and the athletic teams are having a great year.
I think that there are a number of reasons. But, knowing Dr. Catanese, I think that he is at a point in his professional life where he is ready to take on one last major challenge.
The parallels between FAU and FIT are more similar than would appear at first blush. The job that Dr. Catanese did to bring FAU from the small, sleepy, disheveled, and disrespected commuter school, and transform it into a diverse, expansive, explosive and well respected institution of higher learning was impressive to say the least.
And while FIT is not in the dire straits that Dr. Catanese encountered in Boca Raton, there is much challenge ahead. He will be charged with bringing FIT out of the niche category of schools and onto a larger stage in their area of expertise.
Dr. Catanese will accomplish this through hard work, vision, and the sheer force of his personal magnetism. He has a way of getting people to get things done. All good leaders are effective at finding the right mix of people to put into action the plans and dreams and create a reality that can be viewed as a success.
What he and his people have done with the expansion of the University to the various branch campuses, the major overhaul of the FAU Foundation and the resultant capital campaign, the beautification of the Boca Raton campus, and the movement of Athletics from Division II to Division I, has been nothing short of miraculous when viewed against the reality he faced upon taking office. And those are just a few of his accomplishments. The Architecture program, the Medical venture with UM Medical School, the Research and Development Park. The list is a long one.
On a personal level, I will miss him and his wife Sara. Mrs. Catanese is one of the nicest people you could meet. She always made it a point to say nice things when we would be together socially. I always felt that she meant what she said, and I will miss her.
A long time ago Dr. Catanese went to bat for me and I will never forget that. Wherever he goes, I will count him as a friend and a true leader. I only hope that in our time together I have given him some reason to be proud.
FAU Baseball is losing a true friend and supporter. We all hope for the best for Dr. Catanese and Sara. KC
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 Spring Show #7
Wednesday, April 08
Garrett Grant Mic'd Up
Wednesday, April 08
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 Spring Show #6
Monday, March 30
BSB: FGCU vs Florida Atlantic
Tuesday, March 17