BCF Spotlight: The Buffalo Heart of Bryan Niles
10/2/2025 7:00:00 PM | Bulls Championship Fund
The Bulls Championship Fund (BCF) is proud to highlight the stories of donors, season ticket holders, and fans.
Somewhere in Maryland, there’s an office filled with Buffalo Bulls memorabilia. Plastered amongst other national brands—many from the Big Ten—that blue and white belongs to Bryan Niles, a loyal fan and proud supporter of the University of Buffalo Athletics.
“There’s no question where my loyalty lies,” Niles said with a laugh. “There’s no Bills gear either—it’s the Bulls all the way.”
Niles earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UB in the mid-90s, right as the Bulls made their transition into Division I football. He still remembers sitting in the stands as the program took its first steps at that level, and later celebrating the school’s first Mid-American Conference championship. “It seemed like something that might never happen back then,” he said. “To see the growth has been incredible. I really feel like I’ve been there since the beginning of this era.”
Today, Niles channels that same sense of optimism into both his career and his philanthropy. After beginning as a structural engineer, he transitioned into project management and now leads multifamily development projects across the D.C., Virginia, and Maryland region. Yet no matter where life has taken him, his heart has remained in Buffalo.
A proud member of the 1958 Society, Niles has provided support across multiple programs, including football and basketball, as well as Olympic sports such as soccer, tennis, and wrestling. His office décor is more than fandom—it’s a daily reminder of where his passion lies. “The coaches and student-athletes are easy to get behind,” he said. “They have a vision, and they’re doing it the right way. I want to play a part in helping them succeed.”
Some things haven’t changed since those early days, cheering from the student section—Niles is still a fixture at games. The only difference? His view. “Sometimes I am on the sideline,” he joked. Whether he’s watching from the stands in Buffalo or following the Bulls on the road, his loyalty runs deep.
Often found traveling to support the Bulls from Missouri to Massachusetts—and, of course, back to New York—Niles goes out of his way to support UB student-athletes representing the blue and white. It’s a commitment that goes far beyond the games themselves, a reflection of his belief in the power of athletics to shape lives and build futures.
When asked what he’d tell a recruit considering Buffalo, Niles didn’t hesitate: “We’re in an NFL city with great access to everything, from airports to opportunities. Your degree here will matter for the rest of your life. You’ll find a fantastic support system and a community that really embraces you. The facilities are only going to keep improving, and you’ll be proud to be a Bull not just during your playing days, but long after as an alum.”
Mark Alnutt, UB’s vice president and director of athletics, says Niles’ contributions are deeply felt. “Bryan and the Niles Family have made a tremendous impact on Bulls Athletics. His impact and fingerprints are all over multiple programs here. He gets the overall picture of what we are doing here and has always had the student-athlete-centered mindset.”
Through his giving, his travels to support UB teams, and his leadership in the 1958 Society, Niles embodies what it means to be a Bull. He leads with his heart, believing that the next generation of leaders will rise and hopefully from his alma mater. “It’s about making tomorrow a better place,” he said with a smile. “And I have no regrets about how it played out for me. I am grateful for it all.”
To find out how you can get involved with Buffalo Athletics like Bryan, please contact a member of the Bulls Championship Fund staff.
Together, we can continue building a bright future for UB student-athletes!
