Florida’s McGarity and former NFL exec are among 49 applicants for UGA AD job
ATHENS – Florida associate athletic director Greg McGarity and long-time NFL executive Jim Steeg are among 49 people who have asked to be considered for the vacant athletic-director position at the University of Georgia.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday obtained, under Georgia’s Open Records Act, copies of e-mails, letters and resumes submitted to UGA by McGarity, Steeg and others applying for the position vacated by the resignation last month of Damon Evans.
McGarity — an Athens native, a UGA graduate and the No. 2 athletics official at Florida -– made a pitch for the job in a letter to Tom Gausvik, UGA’s associate vice president for human resources.
“I have been very fortunate to work alongside the very best in collegiate athletics at two outstanding institutions, the University of Georgia and the University of Florida, over the last three decades,” McGarity wrote. “I know what it takes to lead and direct an athletic program at the highest level, and am ready to lead the University of Georgia Athletic Association into the future.
“I look forward to having the opportunity to compete for this position.”
Steeg, who recently resigned as president of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, wrote to UGA President Michael Adams, asking to be considered for the job despite having no experience in college athletics.
“I have read that you are looking to fill the opening … with someone with intercollegiate experience,” Steeg wrote to Adams. “I would like to offer an alternative that can continue the success the University of Georgia has had, but can take the department to greater success.
“Although I have not worked in intercollegiate athletics, I believe that my managerial skills, interpersonal skills and professional contacts are not only transferable, but can bring a unique perspective.”
Before joining the Chargers, Steeg worked 26 years in the NFL office, where he was senior vice president in charge of special events, including the Super Bowl.
Also expressing interest in the Georgia position: businessman Mark Lewis, a former UGA football player who is the son of former Georgia Tech head football coach (and former Georgia assistant coach) Bill Lewis.
Mark Lewis interviewed for the Georgia AD job before Evans was hired in 2003. At the time, Lewis was vice president for Olympic sponsorships at General Electric. He now is president of Jet Set Sports, a provider of Olympic hospitality packages.
Among others who have sent in application materials are Steve Dennis, athletic director at Troy and a former Georgia football player and assistant coach; Lin Dawson, athletic director at Grambling; and Bill Schmidt, president of a sports marketing company in Knoxville and a former executive with Gatorade.
Many of the people who have contacted UGA about the job have little or no background in sports management. Applications have come from lawyers, sales managers and chief financial officers, among others.
The documents obtained by the AJC also include some letters of recommendation for candidates.
U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., wrote to Adams to “enthusiastically recommend” McGarity. “He is ready to get back to his hometown and to serve his alma mater in this distinguished position,” Kingston wrote.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
178 comments Add your comment
hind tit
August 5th, 2010
9:47 pm
foster brooks would be a good fit but he’s burp gone on.
Big L
August 5th, 2010
9:47 pm
Did Robert Hall just slap another ho?
Iceman
August 5th, 2010
10:01 pm
Come on home, Greg!
Matt B.
August 5th, 2010
10:01 pm
We all know that while Mr. McGarity is the correct choice, our University President is all about self-service and promotion. Therefore, while the UGA Athletic Association would be wise to select Mr. McGarity, ego and self-preservation will win out, and UGA will be stuck with a second-tier choice. Thus is the result of retaining an uber-politician as University President for all these years.
UGAHAPPYHR.
August 5th, 2010
10:03 pm
Hire McGarity shorten his name,then bookem Dano.
Desert Dawg
August 5th, 2010
10:12 pm
ssigatrurd–does galen hall ring a bell? how about a dead girls credit card? jack off
dawgster
August 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
SSlgator. why are all your comments so classless when it come to the dawgs…do they scare you that much…can you ever try and be civil on here and have some meaningful discussions…Or are you just really this classless…What is the point of always taking a dish at UGA, you have our number right now and shouldn’t have to continue to put the dawgs down…Its one thing to talk about your team and build them up, but your continued dawg bashing serves no purpose…I think a lot of dawg fans would like to have some good conversations regarding the teams this year, but you prevent us from doing that…Show me what kind of person you are and lets engage in some decent conversations in the future..We may disagree but the bashing of our football team is getting sickening….
Desert Dawg
August 5th, 2010
10:19 pm
skram–up your meds man. some folks dont get it, but its no reason to rail them
Desert Dawg
August 5th, 2010
10:20 pm
thanks dawgster
Desert Dawg
August 5th, 2010
10:22 pm
hind tit–thats damn funny!!!!!!
Vince's Dooley
August 5th, 2010
10:23 pm
Prez Adams, I left you several messages. Holla back at me Playah!!!
bufbox
August 5th, 2010
10:29 pm
pulling for Dennis… grew up with him… was always a straight arrow
Our AD your AD RED Panties
August 5th, 2010
10:30 pm
Bryant-Denny expansion makes it fifth-largest stadium
Home to the Tide can now hold 101,821 fans.
gadawgs
August 5th, 2010
10:54 pm
Dr. Adams please hire McGarity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pitbull
August 5th, 2010
10:56 pm
101,821 hicks in one place, geez, that must me something to see.
buckhead benny
August 5th, 2010
10:56 pm
Congratulations! You and the ajc probably cost the jobs of several of these candidates who now have to explain to their employer why they are applying for other employment. I know your trying to be the first to break the scoop. You should respect that most are currently employed and there will be significant fall back to their current employer. Nice work
WITHOUT LINDSEY SCOTT,THERE'S NO 1980 TITLE
August 5th, 2010
11:01 pm
YOU BETTER GET’EM ADAMS OR RESIGN!
SKB
August 5th, 2010
11:06 pm
Politics is more important to Uga then actual abilities, look how long they went Willie Martinez bc he was a friend…
SuperB
August 5th, 2010
11:15 pm
This should have been kept private. With that said, McGarity (whom I knew when he was the manager of the tennis team,) is the best man for the job. Greg: no more Jax– play UF home and away!!!!
Ben There
August 5th, 2010
11:40 pm
If Adams is looking for the best man for the UGA AD position, he’ll hire Greg McGarity. If he is playing his little personal game there is no telling who he’ll drag up.Could be his son. Maybe his wife!
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
12:14 am
If mcgarity Is so great why is he still an assistant?
Hairy Dawg
August 6th, 2010
12:16 am
Go with McGarity.
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
12:17 am
Was he saving himself for uga?
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
12:21 am
Someone anyone!
Why has no one else hired him. Plenty of vacancies in the last ten years.
I Mean NO one else sees it but you experts
JRW7
August 6th, 2010
12:24 am
GM for AD at UGA!!! FIRE ADAMS!!!!
Paul in RDU
August 6th, 2010
12:41 am
Hopefully UGA will hire the best person for the AD position, but the disclosure in the AJC of the names of many of the people applying for the position has to be a concern for any highly qualified candidates applying for any position at UGA – public job or no public job. What person in a secure job in their right mind would apply for a position if they thought it would be spread across the newspapers. NC State hired a new President and a new AD in the last 6 months under very trying conditions (the Pres was forced out) and managed to fill both positions quickly without a laundry list of names in the papers.
trueUGAfan
August 6th, 2010
1:45 am
mcgarity seems like a good choice but i hope people are not thinking that because he comes from florida that he will boost the football play on the field in any way, it sounds like to me just reading some of the comments here that people think he will be all we need to beat florida or anybody else for that matter…
to the trust at UGA, do not overpay for no one, let them come in and prove their worth to the University of Georgia, then pay them…if they can bring in the big bucks as AD’s should then you pay him not just because he comes from a certain or particular place or institution…good luck with the hire…Go Dawgs
UGA Supporter
August 6th, 2010
5:07 am
We have the best choice for AD in Athens. Mike Cavan. Never heard of him? Head Coach @ SMU and successful fund raiser for the University. Google Mike Cavan for other accomplishments.
Tired Of It
August 6th, 2010
5:18 am
LOOK FOR DIVERSITY, hire another brother to run the athletic department. Athletic dept was the best it’s ever been,under Damon Evans.
Former NFL exec wants Georgia AD job | Ben Maller
August 6th, 2010
5:19 am
[...] among 49 people who have asked to be considered for the vacant athletic-director position at the University of Georgia. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday obtained, under Georgia’s Open Records Act, copies [...]
falcon
August 6th, 2010
5:22 am
Go get someone who comes from a winning program. McGarity would certainly qualify.
ATL Sports
August 6th, 2010
6:55 am
How about Kirby Smart?
Jason
August 6th, 2010
7:16 am
I bet if they offered the job to Lane Kiffin, he’d be here by midnight.
GTDog
August 6th, 2010
7:37 am
1st-SSIGATOR is not really a Gator fan. He just uses UF because they are the one program in college football with a winning record against UGA since Richt was hired (in football, more than 1 game).
I know it’s popular to play armchair CEO, but honestly, we (yes WE) don’t know the particulars of the job, the requirements or the candidates. Before we bash Adams let’s remember that he went outside the box and hired Evans. And despite the fact that he resigned in disgrace, Evans did a heck of a job as AD. He certainly didn’t leave UGA because of his job performance. UGA will get the best man, or woman, for the job….who is available and interested.
abbiem
August 6th, 2010
7:40 am
Enter your comments here
RC
August 6th, 2010
7:44 am
Open Records Act or not, freedom of the press or not, I can’t imagine any of these candidates appreciate having their names or the content of what they sent made public in a forum such as this. I think doing so is exceedingly poor form, Mr. Tucker. People’s jobs could be in jeopardy over something like this, and given the continued poor state of the economy, it’s not like anyone needs any more stress in that regard.
tdog
August 6th, 2010
7:50 am
I hope McGarity knows what he is getting into. UGA has become the laughingstock of the SEC. They will never live down the red panties and bad press that has come with them. 49 applicants! In this economy, you would think Adams could get who he wanted.
Gator Mike
August 6th, 2010
7:51 am
As a Gator, I am admitedly parochial; however, I do believe that Mr. McGarity is the right guy for UGA. He has been a terrific asset for UF for many years, and he deserves a chance to help his Alma Mater in their time of need. Were the AD needs on the other foot, I would gladly welcome a Gator home were he on the UGA staff. We are all competitors, and most of us are a tad overboard in our convictions, but the facts remain that both UF and UGA are great universities which deserve only the best.
Good luck to Mr. McGarity.
Go Gators!
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
7:54 am
Someone anyone!
Why has no one else hired him. Plenty of vacancies in the last ten years.
I Mean NO one else sees it but you experts, you would think that someone else would have given this diamond in the rough a chance by now.
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
7:57 am
Btw no one with a life cares about the red panties.
FYI the troopers boss admitted that the cop put way to much detail in his report and has been in trouble several times for overzealous arrests.
Some lame name here
August 6th, 2010
7:58 am
Maybe mcgarity has been saving hisself for ugh. Turning every one else down.
ED
August 6th, 2010
8:05 am
DUMB AXX ADAMS SHOULD HAVE PICKED MCGARITY THE FIRST TIME!
superDawg
August 6th, 2010
8:17 am
ssigaytur is a gt nerd they hide because that is the tek way.Check out their home game attendance pathetic at best.But for god sake if they win they were all there.
superDawg
August 6th, 2010
8:19 am
I say hire Mark P. and no one will get hurt.
Gatorbait 17-3
August 6th, 2010
8:22 am
Gator Mike
I completely agree and spoken as a true gentleman. You will have
a hard time on this site of many folks agreeing with you, but truer
words were never spoken.
hammerhead
August 6th, 2010
8:24 am
Some Lame – if “no one cares” what exactly are you doing posting on this blog? Go find a job.
Carlton Powell
August 6th, 2010
8:26 am
random question for the board: a dear friend of mine, who I trust very much, told me recently that he wanted to take me for a “mustache ride.” Can someone fill me in on what he is referring to? We were tailgating last year for the FSU game when he made this reference. Him and all our guy buddies starting laughing uncontrollably after he said this. I’ve been too embarrassed to fess up and ask him what this means, but he has made this remark several times recently, and he has this weird look in his eyes everytime he makes this comment. Thanks in advance.
JDW
August 6th, 2010
8:28 am
Mikey Adams & Don LeeeeeBURN jr will get a yes man and a step-n-fetch it–so LeeeeBURN can continue his not contract supplying vino/beer/liquor to the UGA Skyboxes and probably others in the Univ. System
Paul Johnson has Moobies....
August 6th, 2010
8:56 am
If Adams hires anyone except McGarrity then we all know who needs to leave next….
Bride of Chucky Knapp
August 6th, 2010
8:57 am
Which one has a little hole in the back of their neck where you can put your hand and a sticks attached to their wrists?