When president Marshall Criser retired in 1989, Bryan served as the acting president of the University of Florida from 1989 to 1990. As a long-time vice-president of the university administration, he immediately placed his own stamp on it. During his twelve months as the university's interim president, Bryan became enmeshed in high-profile controversies involving NCAA violations by two of Florida's sports coaches. He was responsible for the forced resignation of Florida Gators football coach Galen Hall in September 1989, following alleged NCAA rules infractions by Hall and the football staff, and, together with athletic director Bill Arnsparger, for hiring Heisman trophy-winning Florida alumnus Steve Spurrier as the new head coach of the Gators football team in December 1989. Only weeks after Bryan was responsible for Hall's forced resignation, he also demanded the resignation of Gators basketball head coach Norm Sloan for unrelated NCAA violations; Sloan was replaced by interim coach Don DeVoe. The Florida Board of Regents publicly credited Bryan with making difficult, but decisive decisions to preserve the integrity of the university.