Regarded one of the nation’s most talented young athletic directors, Danny White brings to the University of Central Florida a strong record of success on the field and in the classroom, as well as an impressive family pedigree in college athletics.
White, the director of athletics at The State University of New York at Buffalo for three years, has worked with athletics administrators, coaches and staff to transform the Bulls’ program and culture, shattering previous school records for student-athlete GPAs, NCAA tournament berths, fundraising and football ticket sales.
“Danny is one of the nation’s rising stars in college athletics, and his talent, determination, energy and creativity will guide our program to a bright future,” said UCF President John C. Hitt. “He understands that success starts with winning with integrity and student-athletes thriving in the classroom, and he has a history of hiring successful coaches.”
“I am excited to join the UCF family, and my goals include building on our outstanding academic accomplishments and making UCF a national leader known for competitive excellence,” White said. “We will become one of the nation’s premier destinations for coaches and student-athletes, and we will excite our student body, staff and faculty, alumni and the Central Florida community.”
White, 36, expects to earn his Ph.D. in higher education next year from the University of Mississippi, where he served as senior associate athletics director from 2009 to 2012. White earned master’s degrees in business administration and sports administration from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Notre Dame.
His father, Kevin, is vice president and director of athletics at Duke University and a former director of athletics at the University of Notre Dame. His brother, Michael, is the men’s basketball coach at the University of Florida, and his brother, Brian, is the senior associate athletics director for development at the University of Missouri.
“Danny White is a terrific hire for the University of Central Florida,” said Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Conference commissioner. “He comes from a family with college athletics roots and I have no doubt he will be successful in this next step of his career.”
During White’s three years at Buffalo, he, his colleagues and the Bulls’ student-athletes have raised the program’s profile in the community and nationally. Their achievements include:
UCF’s student-athletes have the highest Graduation Success Rate (93 percent) of any public university in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Knights are tied for sixth overall, tied with Vanderbilt and trailing only private institutions Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, Northwestern and Boston College.
“Danny comes from a great family and has grown up around athletics and athletic administration and like his brother, Mike, is a bright young mind in the business,” said University of Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley.
UCF teams have won 11 American Athletic Conference championships during the conference’s first two-plus years of existence. The softball and women’s soccer teams each have won three titles, and the football team has won two.
Before arriving at Buffalo, White was senior associate athletics director at the University of Mississippi from 2009-12. He previously was associate athletics director for development at California State University – Fresno and assistant athletics director for development at Northern Illinois University from 2006-07.
He played college basketball at Towson University and the University of Notre Dame and was director of operations and assistant coach for one season each with Ohio University’s men’s basketball team.
White and his wife, Shawn, have four children: Aidan (11), Molly (8), Caitlin (6) and James (3).