Florida Atlantic hires fundraising veteran Josh McCowan as athletic director

Florida Atlantic University announced the appointment of Josh McCowan as its vice president and director of athletics, succeeding Brian White, who departed for Virginia Tech. McCowan arrives from Mississippi State University, where he served as deputy athletic director and chief revenue officer, overseeing a period that delivered the school's three highest fundraising years and a $173 million increase, including a 121 percent jump from 2024 to 2025.

His 15-year collegiate athletics résumé also includes stints at Kansas State and Colorado, and he spearheaded modern NIL revenue strategies and major-giving initiatives at Mississippi State. The university will formally introduce McCowan on August 7 at the Schmidt Family Athletics Plex. President Adam Hasner highlighted McCowan's track record and commitment to excellence, while McCowan expressed enthusiasm for joining the FAU community in Boca Raton.