Stricklin embraces role as Gators’ AD
GAINESVILLE — New UF athletics director Scott Stricklin already has circled the date — and warned the Gators had better be ready.
The Florida football team will visit the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the fall of 2018.
“Mississippi State is going to be good that year, so we got to get going,” Stricklin deadpanned.
The future matchup between Stricklin’s new school and the school that gave him his professional break is sure to be bittersweet for the 46-year-old.
At Tuesday’s introductory press conference, Stricklin called the decision to leave Starkville for Gainesville “very challenging.” But he said the chance to lead the Gators’ athletic department was an opportunity — the only opportunity — he could not turn down.
“It’s the best job in college athletics,” he said.
Hours earlier, the University Athletic Association board unanimously approved Stricklin as UF’s new athletics director and the successor to Jeremy Foley. Stricklin agreed to a six-year contract for $1.076 million annually and will have annual performance bonuses worth up to $200,000.
Search committee chairman Manny Fernandez said Stricklin will be the first UF athletics director with bonuses tied to both athletics and academics.
“I love this guy,” Fernandez said. “The first time I met him I liked him.”
Stricklin said UF contacted him in June after Foley announced he would step aside after 25 years as AD.
At the time, Stricklin recalled, he was content at Mississippi State. He earned his degree at the school in 1992 and met his wife of 23 years, Anne, when they were students in Starkville.
But Stricklin could not shake the lure of UF.
“Going through this process, it became obvious to me that there’s really only one job I’d leave Mississippi State for, and that is to be a Florida Gator,” he said.
Stricklin inherits a program with a strong academic reputation, massive athletic facility upgrades in the works and a winning tradition few schools can match.
Under Foley, the Gators won 27 national titles in 10 different sports and 130 SEC titles. Florida’s new athletics director is well aware of the school’s track record of athletic success.
Stricklin replaced Greg Byrne as Mississippi State’ AD in 2010 after two years in a fundraising role for the Bulldogs. Prior to that, Stricklin had a long career in media relations, including at his alma mater, Auburn and Kentucky.
Stricklin proved to be a quick study as athletics director and was named 2016 Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year. He said he is undaunted by the challenge of replacing a legend in Foley. The 63-year-old officially will step down Nov. 1 but has the option to serve as emeritus athletics director or a consultant to the school president.
“I’m not trying to be the AD behind the curtain,” Foley said. “I’ll respect him, respect the decision he’s made and I want to do all I can to help him. That’s going to determine where he wants me.”
Stricklin considers Foley “a close friend” and “a resource” going forward. Stricklin also views Foley’s current staff as a tremendous asset and perhaps the best collection in the SEC.
“I admire so much what has happened here,” Stricklin said. “And so it was much more excitement than it was trepidation. It’s much better starting off from a position of a place that’s accustomed to success, knows how to exhibit that success, have the right people in place.
“I’m going to benefit from all the work he’s done.”
In a little more than a month, Stricklin officially will be a Florida Gator. A piece of him always will remain a Mississippi State Bulldog.
Foley, however, expects Stricklin to adapt well to Florida.
“He’s just a real guy and a real person and he’s going to fit,” he said. “He’s going to be perfect.”