Will Weatherford stepped down from his role as USF’s BOT Chairman after five years. ORACLE PHOTO/WILL RAINSBERGER
USF Board of Trustees Chair Will Weatherford announced Thursday he will step down from the role, ending a five-year tenure leading the university’s governing board.
Weatherford, 46, stepped into the position following a unanimous vote on June 8, 2021, after he was appointed to the board earlier that year on Jan. 20 by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
He was reappointed to a new term as chairman on Nov. 14, 2025, extending his tenure by five more years, according to the USF Newsroom.
Still, Weatherford said in a message to the USF community that his decision to step down comes as the university enters a new phase of growth and leadership.
“There is no university in the world with more positive momentum across the enterprise than the University of South Florida,” he said.
Weatherford said he will stay on the board as a Trustee, with Vice Chair Mike Griffin assuming the leading role pending board approval.
“I believe the future has never been brighter,” Weatherford said. “Now is the right time for me to step down as chair and pass the baton.”
The leadership change comes as USF entered a new phase in February under President Moez Limayem — building on the university’s admission into the Association of American Universities, rising research funding and project developments.
Related: Will Weatherford appointed to join USF’s Board of Trustees
Before Weatherford’s initial BOT appointment in 2021, he served as the 84th Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 2012 to 2014, becoming the youngest presiding officer of a state legislative chamber at the time.
He later co-founded Weatherford Capital, a Tampa-based private investment firm, in 2015 with his brothers, Drew and Sam.
After Weatherford was elevated to BOT chair in 2021, he oversaw a period of measurable growth through USF’s invitation to the AAU, research gains and campus development.
“During my five years as board chairman… USF has continued to ascend to new heights,” Weatherford said in his message.
USF joined the AAU on June 1, 2023 — a collection of 71 leading research institutions in the U.S. and Canada that collaborate on advancing higher education, research and innovation, according to its website.
USF was the first public university in Florida to be invited since the University of Florida in 1985, and remains one of three schools in Florida in the AAU — alongside UF and the University of Miami.
At the time of AAU induction, Weatherford said the invitation was one of the “most significant accomplishments” in university history, citing its role in expanding research opportunities and elevating USF’s national profile.
“What they see now is what we have always known: A university with infinite potential, driven by purpose, fueled by talent and united by a shared vision of excellence,” Weatherford said.
During Weatherford’s tenure, USF also reported steady gains in research in fields including health, engineering and artificial intelligence, supported by federal grants and corporate sponsorships, according to USF Newsroom.
In 2025, USF recorded $750 million in research funding, an $11.6 million increase from 2024. Additionally, USF reported $531 million in research activity during the 2025 fiscal year — marking a 15% increase since 2023.
Those funds supported work taking place across the university, including the launch of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing in 2025.
The college is currently housed on the sixth floor of the Tampa Library and will get its own building by mid-2028.
Related: USF researchers say $531 million in research activity supports innovation
USF has also moved forward with long-term campus development plans under Weatherford’s leadership, including the university’s Fletcher District project and on-campus stadium.
In September, the BOT approved the Fletcher District project, a mixed-use development on the site of the former campus golf course set to include student housing, retail space, a hotel and an academic research building.
The first phase of the project is expected to begin groundbreaking this spring, with plans to open in summer 2028.
The BOT also approved a $407 million investment for the 35,000-seat on-campus stadium and related infrastructure last spring.
USF broke ground on the stadium in fall 2024, which will include walkways, wastewater and stormwater utilities and green space for tailgates by fall 2027.
Weatherford pointed to USF’s broader trajectory as the reason he feels comfortable with his departure from the role.
“As I often say — and believe now more than ever — USF’s best days are still to come,” Weatherford said.