Greg McGarity retiring as Georgia athletic director at end of the year

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity is retiring at the end of December.

Georgia will begin its search for a new athletic director, with news that Greg McGarity is retiring on Dec. 31.

McGarity had been the athletic director for the Georgia Bulldogs for the last decade. He was a letterman on the 1973 Georgia tennis team, beginning a career in athletics administration in the late 1970s. After spending the bulk of the 1990s and 2000s working for the University of Florida, McGarity returned to his alma mater to become Georgia’s athletic director in 2010.

“I want to thank President Morehead for all of his support and guidance over the years,” said McGarity. “I step down knowing that our Athletic Association is in great hands under his strong leadership. To our coaches, athletic staff, and student-athletes—you have made the last decade the very best of my career, and I thank you for your dedication to excellence in athletics.”

“You are the heart and soul of our program, and it has truly been an honor to serve alongside you as athletic director.  Finally, my thanks to our alumni, donors, and fans for your unyielding support of Georgia athletics.  There is no better fan base in college sports than the Bulldog Nation.”

Josh Brooks will serve as Georgia’s interim athletic director

McGarity helped bring stability to the Georgia athletic department, one that is certainly better than the one he found. He famously hired Kirby Smart as the football coach, Tom Crean as the men’s basketball coach and Scott Stricklin as the baseball coach in the last decade.

“First and foremost, on behalf of the entire Bulldog Nation, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Greg for his outstanding service to the University of Georgia,” said Georgia President Jere W. Morehead. “While I had hoped Greg would continue to serve as our Athletic Director for a few more years, I understand and appreciate his and Sheryl’s decision to begin a new chapter in their lives.”

“Greg will leave behind a strong legacy of leadership and devotion to his alma mater, having further elevated our athletic program on the national stage. I have particularly appreciated the extraordinary leadership Greg has provided during the pandemic. His calm and steady voice will be missed here and in SEC meetings.”

Senior Deputy Director of Athletics Josh Brooks will serve as the interim once McGarity retires at the end of the year. Deputy Director of Athletics Darrice Griffin will serve in Brooks’ traditional role in the interim, while Georgia begins a search for its next athletic director. Overall, Georgia is in great shape to find its long-term successor for McGarity in the coming weeks and months.

Expect the University of Georgia to take its time to find the right successor for McGarity.

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