IMG Academy Announces Promotions for Kyle Brey as Football Director and Mike Gillian as Basketball Director

BRADENTON, Fla. (May 2, 2024) - IMG Academy, the global leader in sports education announced today the promotion of Kyle Brey to Football Director and Mike Gillian to Basketball Director effective immediately. Brey has served as the Varsity Football Head Coach since 2019 and is coming off leading IMG Academy to its first-ever SSIA State Championship. Gillian has served as an invaluable member of the IMG Academy basketball program since 2019, operating in various capacities including Technical Director and Head of Boys Basketball.

“Kyle Brey and Mike Gillian are both perfect fits to lead their sports programs at IMG Academy and they bring unwavering commitment to our student-athlete development and experience,” said Brian Nash, Vice President of Athletics at IMG Academy. “Kyle has been an integral leader for our football program over the last five years and we look forward to witnessing the impact of his leadership on our student-athletes and coaches. Mike has already held multiple leadership positions within our basketball program and has unparalleled success at every level of his career – we look forward to him continuing the standard of excellence, experience and development with our student-athletes and coaches.”

Kyle Brey

Prior to joining IMG Academy in 2019, Brey served as the football head coach at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, NC., where he led the football program to unprecedented heights, achieving back-to-back NCHSAA playoff appearances and securing their first conference championship in school history in 2018.

Brey held several college athletics roles prior to high school coaching. At the University of Notre Dame, he served as the Event Management & Olympic Facility Program Director, showcasing his expertise in athletic administration. Prior to that, he worked closely with renowned coaches Urban Meyer, Bo Pelini, and Charlie Weiss in quality control coaching.

A former standout student-athlete himself, Brey was a four-year letterman as a tight end and fullback for the University of Buffalo, where he played a pivotal role in the team's Mid-American Conference championship victory in 2008.

In his new role as Football Director at IMG Academy, Brey will oversee the football program operations and student-athlete development and experience.

Mike Gillian

Prior to joining IMG Academy in 2019, he served as an assistant coach at Florida International University and led broadcast commentary for college and high-profile high school games for several media outlets. Gillian's coaching journey includes a decade-long tenure at Longwood University, where he still holds the record for most Division I victories in the program's history.

During his six seasons at George Mason University, Gillian played a pivotal role in guiding the team to multiple NCAA Tournaments, an NIT appearance, and several CAA titles. His recruiting acumen was instrumental in assembling the 2003 class that propelled the Patriots to the NCAA Final Four in 2006.

Gillian achieved success at Bowling Green University, where he contributed to a MAC Championship victory and a post-season NIT appearance. Notably, he coached former NBA first-round draft pick Antonio Daniels at Bowling Green. Gillian also has experience in the Division II ranks, where he played a key role in the success of American International College's basketball program. Over six years, he helped guide the team to 120 victories and multiple appearances in the DII NCAA Tournament.

In his new role as Basketball Director at IMG Academy, Gillian will oversee the basketball program operations and student-athlete development and experience.

About IMG Academy

IMG Academy is the world’s leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:

• Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
• Online coaching via the IMG Academy+ brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches

To learn more about IMG Academy and its on-campus and online experiences, visit www.imgacademy.com.