PROVO — Code words the likes of competitive and passionate often are attached to BYU's new athletic director. His critics might not be quite as polite, preferring to describe Brian Santiago as a hothead or arrogant.

BYU did not have to go far to find its new athletic director. Associate athletic director Brian Santiago has been named the successor to Tom Holmoe. Santiago has been with the BYU athletic department since 1997.

Following a national search, Brigham Young University has appointed Brian Santiago as the university’s next director of athletics. Santiago’s appointment will be formally announced on Wed., May 14, at 10 a.

Brian Santiago's work will start right away — and BYU's new athletic director knows what his first priority will be.

Santiago, who played basketball at Utah Valley and Fresno State, has long been viewed as a "basketball guy," even playing pivotal roles in the hires of current head coaches Kevin Young and Lee Cummard, as well as former women's basketball coach Amber Whiting.

During Wednesday’s news conference introducing new director of athletics Brian Santiago, BYU president Shane Reese said that he’d heard from many passionate Cougar fans about the hire. “Is there such a thing as being too passionate about BYU athletics?