Dr. Kevin D. Kendrick joined the FIU Athletics Department in January 2020 as the Associate Athletic Director of Athletics for Compliance and was elevated to Senior Associate Athletics Director in November 2021.
Dr. Kevin D. Kendrick is a nationally recognized collegiate athletics executive with more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience spanning executive administration, governance, strategic planning, compliance, revenue generation, fundraising, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), and Division I sport administration. He currently serves as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Florida International University (FIU), where he provides executive leadership across several of the department’s most critical operational and strategic initiatives. Since joining FIU in 2020 and earning promotion to Senior Associate Athletic Director in 2021, Dr. Kendrick has become a trusted advisor to executive leadership, helping position the department for sustained success during one of the most transformational periods in the history of collegiate athletics. His leadership extends beyond regulatory oversight to institutional strategy, organizational development, risk management, football administration, external partnerships, and university-wide decision-making.
Dr. Kendrick oversees FIU’s comprehensive NIL strategy and institutional governance, leading the department’s implementation of evolving NCAA legislation while developing innovative partnerships with organizations including INFLCR, Influxer, EA Sports, Blueprint Collective, Teamworks, and Fanatics. His ability to navigate complex regulatory environments while advancing institutional priorities has positioned FIU to compete successfully in the modern collegiate athletics landscape.
As the Sport Administrator for FIU Football, Dr. Kendrick provides executive oversight for one of the university’s flagship programs, working closely with the head coach and senior leadership to guide strategic planning, operational management, budget oversight, student-athlete welfare, personnel support, compliance, NIL implementation, and competitive success. He serves as the primary liaison between football, university administration, conference leadership, and the NCAA, ensuring alignment between institutional priorities and program objectives while fostering a culture of accountability, integrity, and excellence. Beyond his operational responsibilities, Dr. Kendrick has been a principal contributor to FIU Athletics’ long-term strategic vision (Relentless Pursuit: A Strategic Plan for FIU Athletics // 2023-2028). He helped develop the department’s comprehensive five-year strategic plan, focusing on organizational growth, resource development, competitive excellence, student-athlete success, brand enhancement, and operational effectiveness. His leadership philosophy centers on building high-performing organizations through collaboration, innovation, servant leadership, and strategic execution.
Dr. Kendrick’s expertise and influence extend nationally. In 2025, he received the Frank Kara Leadership Award, the highest honor presented by the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), recognizing his exceptional leadership, service, innovation, and lasting impact on the profession. The award reflects his reputation as one of the country’s most respected leaders in intercollegiate athletics governance and compliance. Further demonstrating his commitment to executive leadership, Dr. Kendrick is a 2026 graduate of the NCAA Pathway Program, the NCAA’s premier yearlong executive leadership initiative designed to prepare senior-level athletics administrators for advancement to positions as directors of athletics and conference commissioners. Through the program, he collaborated with nationally recognized athletics directors, conference commissioners, university presidents, executive search professionals, and industry experts while strengthening his expertise in strategic leadership, governance, financial management, fundraising, crisis leadership, and executive decision-making. The experience further prepared him to lead complex organizations and successfully navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of Division I athletics. His national leadership also includes service on the NCAA Division I Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement, where he contributed to policy development and decision-making affecting Division I institutions nationwide. He is an active member of several national organizations dedicated to advancing leadership, governance, and excellence across intercollegiate athletics.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kendrick has held leadership positions at Florida International University, Southern Illinois University, Alabama State University, and Grambling State University, developing broad expertise in executive administration, compliance, governance, fundraising, strategic planning, student-athlete development, and organizational leadership. His experiences across multiple institutional types have provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving business of college athletics and the strategic leadership necessary to position athletics departments for long-term success.
A passionate advocate for leadership development and organizational culture, Dr. Kendrick has championed initiatives focused on diversity, inclusion, mentorship, and student-athlete success. His commitment to service extends beyond higher education through his active membership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., where he has led initiatives supporting youth mentorship, educational advancement, and community engagement. Dr. Kendrick earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Higher Education from Southern Illinois University, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Widely respected for his strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and ability to navigate complex organizational challenges, Dr. Kendrick is regarded as a transformational executive who builds high-performing teams, develops innovative solutions, and advances institutional excellence.
