During Wednesday’s news conference introducing new director of athletics Brian Santiago, BYU president Shane Reese said that he’d heard from many passionate Cougar fans about the hire. “Is there such a thing as being too passionate about BYU athletics?

BYU did not have to go far to find its new athletic director. Associate athletic director Brian Santiago has been named the successor to Tom Holmoe. Santiago has been with the BYU athletic department since 1997.

Brian Santiago, who has served as the Cougars' deputy athletic director since 2017, was named as BYU's new athletic director on Tuesday. In February, longtime athletic director, Tom Holmoe, announced his plan to retire following the 2024-25 season after 20 years at BYU.

Brian Santiago's work will start right away — and BYU's new athletic director knows what his first priority will be.

Santiago, who played basketball at Utah Valley and Fresno State, has long been viewed as a "basketball guy," even playing pivotal roles in the hires of current head coaches Kevin Young and Lee Cummard, as well as former women's basketball coach Amber Whiting.