BOWL SEASON

Richard Giannini, a veteran of five decades of collegiate athletic administration, has held various positions, including being a director of athletics for 17 years, a bowl executive director, and a consultant throughout his long sports career.

Most recently as a bowl executive director, Giannini, played a pivotal role in the establishment of three current bowl games. Notably, in 1990, he co-developed the Blockbuster Bowl, which became the most successful first-year bowl in history and is now known as the Camping World Bowl in Orlando.

Working for ESPN Events, Giannini served as the executive director of the Bahamas Bowl from 2015 to 2021. He also served as a consultant to Complete Sports Management/Lea Miller for the inaugural games of the Bahamas Bowl and ESPN’s Boca Raton Bowl in 2014.

During his tenure as athletic director at Southern Miss from 1999 to 2012, Giannini led the university to remarkable achievements. Southern Miss captured 13 Conference USA championships, including three football titles, two regular-season and two tournament crowns in both baseball, softball, and one in volleyball and men’s basketball.

Under Giannini’s direction, the football team experienced 13 consecutive winning seasons and 12 bowl appearances. The basketball team earned its third NCAA Basketball Tournament berth during the 2011-12 season.The baseball team made significant strides, playing in nine consecutive NCAA regionals. Notably, two sports reached the College World Series: baseball in 2009 and softball in 1999 and 2000.

Giannini and his staff spearheaded nearly 100 million of new and renovated construction of USM’s athletic facilities. Including an athletic service building in the north end zone and 32 luxury suites, a club-level area and visitors dressing room in the South-end zone. Also added to the Roberts/Carlisle/Faulkner Field was an artificial turf field, East Club area, state-of-the-art lighting system and major digital/electronic video board. At baseball’s Pete Taylor Park/Hill Denson Field, new coaches’ offices, dressing rooms, meeting rooms, a press box, 12 suites and additional seating was completed. New construction included a tennis facility, softball stadium and a golf green and practice area. Renovations at Reed Green Coliseum expanded the men’s and women’s basketball offices, locker rooms, and meeting rooms.

Giannini and his staff founded the Southern Miss Athletic Foundation in 1999, which raised close to $60 million, including cash and endowments. They also developed the Circle of Champions program, where individuals committed $100,000 each. The program has grew to over 140 members and continues to be the backbone of athletic financial giving at USM. 

Giannini served on the NCAA Postseason Football Committee for three four-year terms, including two years as chairman. He previously served as the athletics director at Louisiana-Monroe from 1994 to 1999.

During his time at the NCAA in the mid-1970s, Giannini held various responsibilities, including director of marketing, licensing and merchandising. He was the executive producer of the Sunday ABC College Football highlight shows and the NCAA Tournament basketball games not aired by NBC. He also arranged and produced the first national telecast of the College World Series for HBO and numerous conference football highlight films.

Giannini’s career began as an assistant sports information director at his alma mater, Florida, from 1966 to 1970. He then served as the sports information director at Duke from 1970 to 1973. In 1974, he became the assistant athletic director at Duke.

From 1976 to 1977, Giannini worked for the NCAA. In 1978, he returned to Florida as the senior associate athletic director to oversee external affairs in 1978.

In 1986, Giannini left Florida to enter the private sector. He became the CEO and co-owner of Raycom Management Group in Charlotte, North Carolina, a subsidiary of Raycom Sports. During his tenure, he developed numerous sporting events, including the Blockbuster Bowl.

Giannini’s achievements have been recognized through various honors. He was inducted into the University of Florida’s College of Health and Human Performance Hall of Fame in March 2004, the Gator Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, the Saint Leo University Athletics of Fame in February 2005, and the Bowl Association Hall of Fame in 2022.

Giannini’s athletic background includes competing in the weight events as a track athlete at St. Leo and Furman. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1966.

Giannini and his wife, Gayle, reside in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They are parents of four daughters, Ansley Stone, Brittney Borbash, Carlyn Linker, and DeLancey Giannini, and nine grandchildren, Tori, Parker, Sara, Kelsey, Ryleigh, Kyle, Avery, Mackenzie, and Landon.