ULM athletic director Floyd resigns, cites health issue

Adam Hunsucker | The News Star

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ULM is once again in the market for an athletic director.

Nick Floyd resigned from the position on Monday after 13 months on the job, citing a physical health issue. Floyd’s resignation is effective September 4 and he will be reassigned to an administrative position at ULM through December 31, 2018.

“Since this past winter, I have been dealing with a physical health issue that I believe can be more effectively addressed by cutting back my schedule and taking time to focus on getting well and feeling better,” Floyd said in a statement released by the university.

“I have agreed to stay with the university for these next few months in another role in order to help facilitate this transition. My family and I are thankful for the opportunity to come to ULM; the future of the program is bright, and we wish everyone here the very best going forward.”

ULM chief administrative officer Scott McDonald will continue to have day-to-day oversight of the athletic department, but will not carry the title of interim athletic director.

McDonald, a longtime supporter, joined ULM’s administration in July.

“We have a senior staff that’s seasoned and has done a tremendous job,” McDonald said. “We feel like the plan is in place and we’ll continue to execute with the staff we have and I’ll be involved where I can to support them.”

Floyd’s replacement will be the fourth athletic director at ULM since Nick Bruno became university president in 2010.

Bruno said Floyd expressed his concerns about continuing as athletic director while addressing his health over the past several months.

"I deeply appreciate Nick Floyd's efforts over the past 13 months," Bruno said. "He inherited an athletics department that was facing difficult and challenging times. Nick worked hard to bring structure to the department, reorganize his staff and create expectations. He has set the department on a path that we are all excited about."

ULM hired Floyd to replace Brian Wickstrom in July 2017. Wickstrom declined to pursue a contract extension in May 2017 after four years as athletic director.

In his short tenure, Floyd stressed facility improvement and revenue growth. ULM completed the first of a three-phase, $5 million renovation to Brown Stadium and Groseclose Track in April 2018; a project that began prior to Floyd’s arrival.

Floyd helped negotiate the rescheduling of ULM’s non-conference football game at Florida State, which netted the athletic department $1.4 million. The game, originally scheduled for September, was postponed following Hurricane Irma.

ULM’s softball facilities are set to undergo a renovation. Jessica Thornton was named interim softball coach on August 8 after Corey Lyon resigned to join the staff at Marshall University.

Floyd also began discussions with ULM’s administration about offering cost-of-attendance to student-athletes. The football program added a 10th assistant coach in June.

ULM had an operating budget of $15.5 million in 2017 and generated $16.1 million in revenue. Both figures ranked last among Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools.

Floyd came to ULM from East Carolina, where he spent 16 years in various roles from senior associate athletics director to executive associate athletics director and oversaw the school’s Olympic sports.

Prior to ECU, Floyd worked for Conference USA as chief financial officer and an associate commissioner. He helped negotiate a television agreement, bowl tie-ins and was the director of the C-USA men’s basketball tournament.

Floyd’s resume also includes 12 years at Southern Miss, with the last five as senior associate athletic director.

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