Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Josh McCowan Named Vice President and Director of Athletics
7/31/2026 1:44:00 PM | General
BOCA RATON, Fla. – An accomplished and respected college athletics administrator with proven fundraising and revenue generation success, Josh McCowan was announced Friday as vice president and director of athletics at Florida Atlantic University.
McCowan, who will be officially introduced next Friday during a press conference at the Schmidt Family Athletics Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence, brings more than 15 years of high-level collegiate athletics experience to Boca Raton that has included stints at Mississippi State University, Kansas State University and University of Colorado.
"I'm thrilled to name Josh McCowan as our next vice president and director of athletics. Florida Atlantic has a proven track record of attracting young, rising leaders, and Josh's experience, energy, and commitment to excellence make him a perfect fit for our dynamic university," said FAU President Adam Hasner. "I want to thank Michael Graffin for his steady leadership as interim director of athletics throughout this transition, and Board of Trustees Chair Piero Bussani and athletics benefactor Michael Hagerty for the tremendous time and dedication they gave to our national search. The future is bright for athletics at Florida Atlantic, and Jillian and I look forward to welcoming Josh, his wife Ashley, and their children Kacen and Kinsley to Paradise."
Named in 2026 as one of the Top 100 Future Athletics Directors by Silver Waves Media, McCowan joined Mississippi State Athletics in June 2023 and made an immediate impact by leading the Southeastern Conference institution to its three highest fundraising years in school history. In this three-year span, MSU raised more than $173 million, including a 121% increase from 2024 to 2025.
"Florida Atlantic's trajectory over the past decade has been unmistakable — from our athletes' record-breaking GPAs to our 15 conference titles — and we look forward to building on that momentum under the leadership of Josh McCowan," said FAU Board of Trustees Chair Piero Bussani. "Josh's commitment to success will further the university's national profile through academic and athletic excellence and create a great experience for fans and supporters."
McCowan served as deputy athletics director/chief revenue officer and CEO of The Bulldog Club, Inc., and has guided the department's revenue generating strategies as well as Bulldog Club Inc., operations while serving as a member of the Athletics Executive Leadership team. He oversaw The Bulldog Club Inc., ticket office operations and sales, data and analytics, special event partnerships, concessions and Bulldog Sports Properties. McCowan advised on budgeting, revenue-sharing implementation, and NIL strategy, and also was sport administrator for men's basketball and as athletics liaison to the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association.
"I am incredibly grateful to President Adam Hasner, Board of Trustee Chairman Piero Bussani and the search committee for the opportunity to serve as the next vice president and director of athletics at Florida Atlantic University," said McCowan. "As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve, I'm excited about FAU's trajectory and what can be accomplished together. It is crystal clear that Florida Atlantic has demonstrated both a firm commitment to competitive excellence and exceptional institutional alignment that positions us for success in modern college athletics. My family and I could not be more excited to get to Boca Raton, and we look forward to joining the incredible staff, coaches, student-athletes and supporters in the Owl family!"
First hired in Starkville in 2023 as deputy athletics director for advancement and CEO of the Bulldog Club, Inc., McCowan guided the Bulldogs' revenue generations efforts, highlighted by FY25 that saw major gift commitments close at a clip of three times the previous 10-year average – including 10 gifts of $1 million or more and a record $51.1 million in outright contributions. McCowan also led the modernization of NIL revenue strategy, resulting in substantial year-over-year funding growth. He established the first philanthropic major giving society in MSU Athletics history and oversaw a 31% increase in combined ticket and contribution revenue – growing the total by more than $11.5 million over three years.
McCowan, who holds two degrees from Kansas State University, spent nearly 10 years at his alma mater. The final six years of his tenure was as senior associate athletics director for development, from 2017 to 2023, leading the Ahearn Fund as a member of the Wildcats' senior staff. Before being elevated to that role, he spent two years as the senior director of development (2015-17) overseeing the Ahearn Fund's daily operations and major giving programs, and two years as associate director of development (2013-15).
While in Manhattan, he led all development and fundraising operations for K-State Athletics, including campaign oversight, major giving, annual fund, premium seating, endowment and planned giving, donor stewardship, and event hospitality while representing KSU on the City of Manhattan Airport Advisory Board. In FY22, his final year at Kansas State, the Ahearn Fund posted a record $58.9 million in total giving and $20.4 million in annual fund revenue.
McCowan created and led the "Building Champions" campaign — the largest fundraising campaign in K-State Athletics history — which surpassed $100 million raised, a department record for a capital campaign that included the South Endzone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the Shamrock Practice Facility, Morris Family Olympic Training Center, and Morgan Family Volleyball Arena. He also steered the Ahearn Fund past its $340 million goal to over $393 million raised toward K-State's $1.4 billion Innovation and Inspiration university-wide campaign — the largest contribution of any campus unit.
Before his time at Kansas State, McCowan worked at the University of Colorado with its development and fundraising Buff Club team.
McCowan is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Executive Committee, LEAD1 Institute, a 2025 AD360 Participant and has attended multiple Collegiate Athletics Symposiums (CALS). He served as a men's basketball manager at Kansas State from 2005 to 2009, while being head manager from 2007 to 2009. He was a graduate assistant on the 2009–10 K-State Elite Eight men's basketball team and Big 12 Conference Champion runner-up.
He holds a Master of Arts in educational administration and leadership (2011) and a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education (2009), both from Kansas State. He is married to Ashley McCowan, and the couple has a son, Kacen, and a daughter, Kinsley.
What They're Saying About Josh McCowan
"Florida Atlantic has made a phenomenal hire in Josh McCowan. I have not only worked closely with him during his time at K-State but also have watched him flourish as a well-rounded administrator who is ready to lead a department. His fundraising acumen is evident, and he understands what it takes to be successful in today's landscape. I am happy for Josh, Ashley, Kacen and Kinsley. FAU got a really good one."
-- Gene Taylor, Director of Athletics, Kansas State
"Josh has been a tremendous asset to Mississippi State Athletics, and we appreciate the positive impact he's made on our department the last three years. He's a tireless worker of great character who builds genuine relationships with everyone he works with. He shares the same commitment to student-athletes, coaches and staff that defines great programs. Josh's leadership, professionalism and talent will serve him and Florida Atlantic well. This is a well-earned opportunity for Josh, and we're excited for him, Ashley, Kacen and Kinsley as they begin this new chapter at Florida Atlantic."
-- Zac Selmon, Director of Athletics, Mississippi State
The Josh McCowan Career File
Career
Education
#WIP
McCowan, who will be officially introduced next Friday during a press conference at the Schmidt Family Athletics Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence, brings more than 15 years of high-level collegiate athletics experience to Boca Raton that has included stints at Mississippi State University, Kansas State University and University of Colorado.
"I'm thrilled to name Josh McCowan as our next vice president and director of athletics. Florida Atlantic has a proven track record of attracting young, rising leaders, and Josh's experience, energy, and commitment to excellence make him a perfect fit for our dynamic university," said FAU President Adam Hasner. "I want to thank Michael Graffin for his steady leadership as interim director of athletics throughout this transition, and Board of Trustees Chair Piero Bussani and athletics benefactor Michael Hagerty for the tremendous time and dedication they gave to our national search. The future is bright for athletics at Florida Atlantic, and Jillian and I look forward to welcoming Josh, his wife Ashley, and their children Kacen and Kinsley to Paradise."
Named in 2026 as one of the Top 100 Future Athletics Directors by Silver Waves Media, McCowan joined Mississippi State Athletics in June 2023 and made an immediate impact by leading the Southeastern Conference institution to its three highest fundraising years in school history. In this three-year span, MSU raised more than $173 million, including a 121% increase from 2024 to 2025.
"Florida Atlantic's trajectory over the past decade has been unmistakable — from our athletes' record-breaking GPAs to our 15 conference titles — and we look forward to building on that momentum under the leadership of Josh McCowan," said FAU Board of Trustees Chair Piero Bussani. "Josh's commitment to success will further the university's national profile through academic and athletic excellence and create a great experience for fans and supporters."
McCowan served as deputy athletics director/chief revenue officer and CEO of The Bulldog Club, Inc., and has guided the department's revenue generating strategies as well as Bulldog Club Inc., operations while serving as a member of the Athletics Executive Leadership team. He oversaw The Bulldog Club Inc., ticket office operations and sales, data and analytics, special event partnerships, concessions and Bulldog Sports Properties. McCowan advised on budgeting, revenue-sharing implementation, and NIL strategy, and also was sport administrator for men's basketball and as athletics liaison to the MSU Foundation and Alumni Association.
"I am incredibly grateful to President Adam Hasner, Board of Trustee Chairman Piero Bussani and the search committee for the opportunity to serve as the next vice president and director of athletics at Florida Atlantic University," said McCowan. "As the collegiate athletics landscape continues to evolve, I'm excited about FAU's trajectory and what can be accomplished together. It is crystal clear that Florida Atlantic has demonstrated both a firm commitment to competitive excellence and exceptional institutional alignment that positions us for success in modern college athletics. My family and I could not be more excited to get to Boca Raton, and we look forward to joining the incredible staff, coaches, student-athletes and supporters in the Owl family!"
First hired in Starkville in 2023 as deputy athletics director for advancement and CEO of the Bulldog Club, Inc., McCowan guided the Bulldogs' revenue generations efforts, highlighted by FY25 that saw major gift commitments close at a clip of three times the previous 10-year average – including 10 gifts of $1 million or more and a record $51.1 million in outright contributions. McCowan also led the modernization of NIL revenue strategy, resulting in substantial year-over-year funding growth. He established the first philanthropic major giving society in MSU Athletics history and oversaw a 31% increase in combined ticket and contribution revenue – growing the total by more than $11.5 million over three years.
McCowan, who holds two degrees from Kansas State University, spent nearly 10 years at his alma mater. The final six years of his tenure was as senior associate athletics director for development, from 2017 to 2023, leading the Ahearn Fund as a member of the Wildcats' senior staff. Before being elevated to that role, he spent two years as the senior director of development (2015-17) overseeing the Ahearn Fund's daily operations and major giving programs, and two years as associate director of development (2013-15).
While in Manhattan, he led all development and fundraising operations for K-State Athletics, including campaign oversight, major giving, annual fund, premium seating, endowment and planned giving, donor stewardship, and event hospitality while representing KSU on the City of Manhattan Airport Advisory Board. In FY22, his final year at Kansas State, the Ahearn Fund posted a record $58.9 million in total giving and $20.4 million in annual fund revenue.
McCowan created and led the "Building Champions" campaign — the largest fundraising campaign in K-State Athletics history — which surpassed $100 million raised, a department record for a capital campaign that included the South Endzone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium, the Shamrock Practice Facility, Morris Family Olympic Training Center, and Morgan Family Volleyball Arena. He also steered the Ahearn Fund past its $340 million goal to over $393 million raised toward K-State's $1.4 billion Innovation and Inspiration university-wide campaign — the largest contribution of any campus unit.
Before his time at Kansas State, McCowan worked at the University of Colorado with its development and fundraising Buff Club team.
McCowan is a member of the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) Executive Committee, LEAD1 Institute, a 2025 AD360 Participant and has attended multiple Collegiate Athletics Symposiums (CALS). He served as a men's basketball manager at Kansas State from 2005 to 2009, while being head manager from 2007 to 2009. He was a graduate assistant on the 2009–10 K-State Elite Eight men's basketball team and Big 12 Conference Champion runner-up.
He holds a Master of Arts in educational administration and leadership (2011) and a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education (2009), both from Kansas State. He is married to Ashley McCowan, and the couple has a son, Kacen, and a daughter, Kinsley.
What They're Saying About Josh McCowan
"Florida Atlantic has made a phenomenal hire in Josh McCowan. I have not only worked closely with him during his time at K-State but also have watched him flourish as a well-rounded administrator who is ready to lead a department. His fundraising acumen is evident, and he understands what it takes to be successful in today's landscape. I am happy for Josh, Ashley, Kacen and Kinsley. FAU got a really good one."
-- Gene Taylor, Director of Athletics, Kansas State
"Josh has been a tremendous asset to Mississippi State Athletics, and we appreciate the positive impact he's made on our department the last three years. He's a tireless worker of great character who builds genuine relationships with everyone he works with. He shares the same commitment to student-athletes, coaches and staff that defines great programs. Josh's leadership, professionalism and talent will serve him and Florida Atlantic well. This is a well-earned opportunity for Josh, and we're excited for him, Ashley, Kacen and Kinsley as they begin this new chapter at Florida Atlantic."
-- Zac Selmon, Director of Athletics, Mississippi State
The Josh McCowan Career File
Career
- July 2026 – current -- Vice President and Director of Athletics, Florida Atlantic
- February 2026 – July 2026 -- Deputy Athletics Director - Chief Revenue Officer - CEO of The Bulldog Club, Inc., Mississippi State
- June 2023 – February 2026 -- Deputy Athletics Director of Advancement – CEO of The Bulldog Club, Inc., Mississippi State
- July 2017 – June 2023 -- Senior Associate Athletics Director of Development, Kansas State
- October 2015 – June 2017 -- Senior Director of Development, Kansas State
- December 2013 – September 2015 -- Associate Director of Development, Kansas State
- August 2012- December 2013 – Athletics Development Associate, Colorado
Education
- Master of Arts Educational Administration & Leadership: Kansas State University (May 2011)
- Bachelor of Arts Secondary Education: Kansas State University (May 2009)
- Wife: Ashley McCowan
- Children: Son, Kacen; daughter, Kinsley
#WIP
Wednesday, May 13
Tuesday, May 12
Tuesday, May 05
Thursday, April 30