He served as the dean of the College of Architecture at the University of Florida from 1986 to 1989. During this term, he was also a professor of architecture and planning at the university. After his term at the University of Florida, Catanese began his term as President of Florida Atlantic University in January 1990. During his term as president, Catanese led an initiative to start a Division I football team at the university. In 2003, as a parting gift, the Florida Atlantic University foundation, a charitable foundation that supports the school illegally funneled $42,000 to Catanese for the purchase of a Corvette. Police suggested that both Catanese and his wife be charged with felonies as a result of the scandal. In 1998, prior to these allegations of misconduct, he was awarded the Sons of Italy Foundation Achievement Award. A year later, Catanese was awarded the "Sun-Sentinel's" Excalibur Award.