Sports and entertainment director receives 2-Year extension

Peter Holland // Assistant Sports Director

President Mark B. Rosenberg announced on Friday, Sept. 19 Pete Garcia’s two-year extension as FIU’s executive director of Sports and Entertainment.  

Garcia’s contract extension has him working until July 31, 2018. After his new contract expires, he indicated he will officially step down.

“Leading FIU Athletics has been one of my most rewarding and exciting experiences,” Garcia said in a press release provided by Media Relations. “However, after months of personal reflection, I believe it is important to explore new professional challenges.”

According to the release, Garcia’s primary focus for his final two years is to complete his $14 million renovations and upgrade facilities, including the football and soccer stadiums, the convocation center and the softball and golf complexes.

Garcia’s extension comes after calls for him to be fired came from students and alumni alike. Wednesday, Sept. 17, an airplane carrying a banner with the words “FIU, fire Pete Garcia” was seen flying above the Modesto Maidique campus.

Garcia has recently come under more fire since news outlets reported on the strategies used to get students to attend games,  including offering an Amazon Fire Stick for attending all home games.

Community support for Garcia plummeted after he fired former FIU’s football head coach Mario Cristobal after a 3-9 season, despite his teams playing in consecutive bowl games and being Sun Belt Conference champs in 2010.

Under Garcia’s tenure, some of the sports teams have seen a decline in national performance and recognition, including baseball, men’s soccer and both basketball programs, though football, swimming and diving and women’s soccer have seen improvement.  

“Pete has led our athletic program during a pivotal decade in its development,” Rosenberg said in the press release. “I thank Pete for his leadership and the commitment he brought to the job.”

There is no word on when Rosenberg will begin the search for Garcia’s replacement for 2018.