Northern Arizona Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Uri Farkas will step away from the Lumberjacks program, effective March 20, 2026, the university confirmed Tuesday.
Farkas cited physical health, mental health, and overall well-being as factors in his decision.
“I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition for Northern Arizona Athletics,” Farkas said in a statement provided to HERO Sports. “I wish nothing but the best for our wonderful coaches, student-athletes, and fans. I’ve loved every minute of my time in Flagstaff.”
According to his contract, Farkas will not owe a buyout to Northern Arizona despite departing before the agreement’s conclusion. Elevated to athletic director in June 2025, his contract ran through June 30, 2028. The deal included a $100,000 buyout clause if he had accepted another athletic director position elsewhere.
At the time of this report, Northern Arizona had not announced an interim athletic director or outlined a timeline for the next leadership structure.
While the university has not linked Farkas’ departure to financial pressures, sources familiar with the Lumberjacks’ athletic department indicated that Northern Arizona is facing significant budget constraints across campus, with athletics among the areas affected. Those pressures may have contributed to the timing of his decision.
Northern Arizona also opted out of revenue sharing last summer and had planned to opt in this year. That timeline now appears to extend into 2026-27, per multiple sources.
The Lumberjacks compete in the Big Sky Conference, where six members opted into the House settlement, while UC Davis has unofficially indicated it plans to opt in as well. Additionally, in July, the Big Sky Conference will welcome Utah Tech and reintroduce Southern Utah, with both institutions having opted in last summer.
Farkas joined Northern Arizona in 2018, working under then–Director of Athletics Mike Marlow. Over his tenure, he played a central role in shaping the department’s strategic direction, with an emphasis on fundraising growth, innovative revenue initiatives, and positioning the program for the shifting economics of college athletics.
Under his leadership, NAU Athletics recorded a historic fundraising year exceeding $4 million, the highest single-year total in department history. During his time as athletic director, the Lumberjacks captured 11 conference championships, while the program earned 73 conference titles and five national championships across all sports during his broader tenure at the university.
His departure comes at a moment of transition not only for Northern Arizona but for many mid-major athletic departments navigating escalating costs, revenue-sharing decisions, and institutional budget realities.
For NAU, the next steps will involve stabilizing leadership and charting a path forward amid a rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape. We will provide a full breakdown of the vacancy left by Farkas on HERO Sports.