Following up on the reports from Thursday evening, Georgia has officially announced the hiring of Greg McGarity as their new athletic director.
UGA president Michael Adams introduced Damon Evans’ replacement at a news conference Friday afternoon.
“Greg McGarity is an experienced senior athletic administrator who has spent his entire life in athletics and athletic administration,” Adams said. “He was admired greatly during the time he worked in the department here, and I can tell you from the comments I have read during this process that this is considered to be a great loss at the University of Florida. He has been involved in major personnel decisions at Florida, and I consider hiring the right people in the right positions to be the most important function of a senior administrator.”
Upwards of 70 people applied for the position but, in the end, it was the local boy who received the opportunity to come home and head an SEC athletic department.
An Athens native, McGarity graduated from UGA with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism in 1976. After beginning his career in the UGA Athletic Association, he joined the University of Florida in 1992, the press release, read, rising progressively through the positions of associate athletic director and senior associate athletic director to his current position of executive associate athletic director
“I look forward to continuing and furthering the academic and athletic excellence already exemplified by this great institution,” McGarity said. “I am excited about the opportunity to return home and to lead the athletic program at my alma mater, and particularly to work with our students, athletic staff, the UGA administration, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters.”
McGarity will make $420,000 annually on his five-year deal, with raises of $20,000 per year built into the contract. He would also receive a $125,000 “longevity bonus”, payable at the end of the initial deal.
