Rob Higgins announced as USF’s first CEO of Athletics

TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida on Tuesday announced that Rob Higgins will be the university’s first-ever CEO of Athletics. 

Higgins has served as executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission since 2004. During that time, the region has hosted two Super Bowls, a College Football Playoff National Championship and a long list of other high-profile events.

“As we embarked on this search, it became clear that this moment was different for the University of South Florida. Our next leader couldn’t just be an athletics director – we needed a CEO of USF Athletics,” USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford said.

“Rob Higgins has proven during his time with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission that he isn’t afraid to dream big,” Weatherford said. “He’ll bring that same ambition to USF, and we’re excited to welcome him back home to lead our next chapter.”

Higgins served as the president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee in 2021 and was on the bid and operations committee that hosted Super Bowl XLIII in 2009.

His connection to USF started at an early age. Shortly after attending his first men’s basketball game at age 8, he became a ball kid for the team. After graduating from USF, he worked as a staff member for USF Athletics, helping oversee facilities and event management.

He was inducted into USF’s Zimmerman School of Advertising Hall of Fame in 2015 and in May 2025 received the Distinguished Citizen Award at USF Commencement. 

“I never imagined that an opportunity to volunteer as a young boy at USF basketball games would take me down a path to a career of over 20 years serving at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and now the opportunity to return to my alma mater as the first CEO of Athletic,” Higgins said. “Cliches are often rooted in some truth, but this truly is a dream come true. I could not be more honored to take on this responsibility and could not be more excited to get started. Go Bulls!”