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.
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178 comments Add your comment
Paul Johnson has Moobies....
August 6th, 2010
9:02 am
And for all the “geniuses” who are wondering why McGarity is not an AD somewhere already, look at Will Muschamp at Texas. Do you leave a #2 position at a top 3 university to be #1 at a top 50 school? The answer is NO. He now has a chance to be top DAWG at a top school that just so happens to be his alma mater and his dream job. Think about it dum dum.
nerds! nerds! nerds!
August 6th, 2010
9:09 am
Less than a month before the kids get to prove it on the field. Who else is fired up? It’s going to be nice seeing the numbers 3 & 4 in the backfield again. With that being said, I hope UGA has an AD before kickoff. GO DAWGS!
Snoop Dawg
August 6th, 2010
9:13 am
Give the AD ball to Herschell, stupid!
You better believe
August 6th, 2010
9:25 am
—we hire Grey McGarity and the days of CMR taking his silver platter to Jacksonville will come to a stop!
I am confused ........ again
August 6th, 2010
9:25 am
Confused, i am again. We all know that “UGA is a cesspool of fools, drunks, and it is a backwater, third rate program ( in three of the last 9 Sugar Bowl games) and that CMR is a loser and a horrible coach and that the UGA facilities are third world in nature.” Right???
Then, um, why is one AD candidate the former PRESIDENT of the NFL’s San Diego Chargers??? A man that reaches a position like that in life is supposedly ULTRA successful. Why would he want to reach ……….HIGHER UP the career ladder for a “low level” thing like UGA??? Hmmmmm?
UGA attracts the best ……….yes, including CTG.
Here are the facts, UGA haters ……….UGA IS ONE $$$$$ RICH PROGRAM. RICH IN TRADITION and MONEY. WE all know that money talks and fools ( like you haters ) walk.
Now you dawn your thug caps ( with “your” school’s colors ) and go hang out at the local mall.
Go Dogs.
Schmeckdawg
August 6th, 2010
9:29 am
Paul Johnson Has Moobie @ 8:56 and 9:02
You are spot on about aDAMsorry Dawg. I wish they would have already canned his sorry A$$!!! I mean he did cram Jim “Scumbag” Harrick down Dooley’s throat and he picked Damon Evans over McGarity back in 2004 because he was a Dooley supporter. I just hope his dumb A$$ doesn’t screw up AGAIN. I am with you 100%, go ahead hire McGarity and be done with it. This waiting until the first of the year stuff is a bunch of toro kaka (don’t know about the spelling of the last word; however, I am sure everyone will catch my drift).
Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eagle Fan
August 6th, 2010
9:39 am
Georgia Southern’s Sam Baker would be a great AD for The University of Georgia.
Tech Wrek
August 6th, 2010
9:48 am
The easiest way is to find out who has the most DUI’s and accusations of rape. That guy will slip into the team totally unnoticed, like a glove
AltamahaDawg
August 6th, 2010
9:48 am
Oooh, see wee the problem is that we dum dums missed the University of Florida news conference where it was announced that Jeremoy Foley was retireing in the next few years and the designation of Mcgarity’s new official title as Atheletic Director in Waiting. You know , because he is in the exact same situation as Muschamp.
I guess Charlie Strong leaving UF to take a job at L’ville instead of sitting around and waiting for Meyer to maybe leave, was an idiot move. Just like the other thousands of coaches and administrators that all move around to work thier way up because that is the norm.
I don ‘t question Mcgarity’s motives to stay. (and a LOT Longer than Muschamp has been waiting BTW) I understand that. Nor do I question his motives to want to come to his dream job. What I question is how does that have any bearing on what is in OUR best interest, not his. Obviously this job is going to be a step up for whoever we hire, or else they would be applying. That’s a given. Not a criteria.
I would fully support his hire, but only if no other candidate, including the #1 guy at a top 50 school cannot prove to be a better choice. Maybe he is the best guy. Certainly sounds like a top notch guy, and would be a very popular choice, which goodness knows this place could use a popular move from the Pres. I just think with 29 cadidates he is not the ONLY choice and it’s typically when you hire for a job, to know how a guy has actually done that job. With Mcgarity we have to just assume he can, becasue in all these many years he has passed on what has had to have been, (if he is that qualified), plenty of opportunities to have proven that. I also don’t see how taking the #1 spot at a top 50 school would have damaged his chances when at top 3 school did come calling.
Would you like his less now, would he be in less consideration for this job today, if he had taken the AD job at AUB for the past few year in addition to his many year as the #2 at Florida? I’d say he would be a no brainer now if he had.
Delbert D.
August 6th, 2010
10:00 am
If McGarity were hired, would CMR be his de facto boss? Look outside for the best candidate.
UGAGirlFAN
August 6th, 2010
10:25 am
Coming from UF ——Could we trust him???!!!!!! HMMMMMMMMMMM
More candidates for Georgia’s AD job, and a strong endorsement for McGarity | UGA sports blog
August 6th, 2010
10:27 am
[...] you missed it, here’s my story from late yesterday on 49 people applying for the UGA athletic director job, including, to name a [...]
PappyDawg
August 6th, 2010
10:33 am
Don’t rule out Mark Lewis as a great candidate. Seems to have more actual experience at leadership than the other candidates, and has raised lots of money for the Olympics. And a Dawg.
AltamahaDawg
August 6th, 2010
10:33 am
One thing I would not hold against McGarity is that he is too “inside”. He’s been at Florida for 19 yrs. Not sure he has too many ties left, otehr than purely personal. He left Dooley to go work for UF in what was only a marginally better job, when he was moving up the ladder already, at his alma mater no less. Dooley tried to hire him back to Georgia as a Assoc. AD, and he wouldn’t leave Florida.
I’d say he is pretty outside at this point.
McGarity Rules
August 6th, 2010
10:37 am
McGarity’s a shoo-in for the job–he’s worked for years at UF, has a UGA background and knows how to run a big time program. He’ll get the job easy–bank on it.
Dawghater
August 6th, 2010
10:37 am
Hire Bill Lewis, UGA deserves him! He’s awesome, just trust us!
da hood
August 6th, 2010
10:37 am
I hope they don’tt hire McGarrity. He is too old to not have any experience at actually leading a program.
bart
August 6th, 2010
10:38 am
If Adams does not hire McGarity, then Adams needs to be fired.
AltamahaDawg
August 6th, 2010
10:46 am
So McGarity was more of a “Dooley Supporter” than Damon Evans was in 2004? A guy who had left Dooley to go work for the hated rivals 12 year before, and then passed on multiple efforts by Dooley to hire him back was a bigger supporter than the guy who was Dooley’s, hand picked, trained, promoted, #2 guy in the department at the time. Interesting.
Waiting to See
August 6th, 2010
10:47 am
I do not care who UGA hires, but they better hire an AD who is not afraid to can a head coach—yes, even Richt—or an incompetent assistant coach—Bozo?—who does not perform at the highest level, particularly when the head coach makes the kind of money Richt does. It’s about time the UGA fan base got its money’s worth. Also, they should hire an AD who thinks that 10 year contracts are BS. Any university president or AD who gives a coach a ten year contract is irresponsible and should not be in that position. 5 year contracts at a time are more than sufficient and will not cost the institution an arm and a leg—witness UT and Phil—if things turn sour.
AltamahaDawg
August 6th, 2010
10:56 am
bart, I don’t think the Board Of Regents, is likely to fire Adams if he doesn’t hire a specific person for an administrative position, do you?
clarksa
August 6th, 2010
11:04 am
Lee Fowler would do a great job at UGA.
now that is funny, I don't care who you are
August 6th, 2010
11:20 am
why anyone would want to move from Florida to Inbredville, the Cesspool of the South and Loserville to the Gators for the last God knows how many years in beyond me..
OrlG8r
August 6th, 2010
11:20 am
He was our assistant…. He’s overqualified for UGA….
BuckheadBill
August 6th, 2010
11:25 am
When Hugh Durham went to Final Four in 1982, Greg found a place on UGA plane for a Tech graduate. Hope he found some common sense while at Florida. But that would be a strange place to search for common sense, now wouldn’t it?
AltamahaDawg
August 6th, 2010
11:32 am
The fact that somebody is trying leave Florida to move to (all that) kind of tells you all you need to know about Florida doesn’t it.
Inside the UGA AD Search « The Grit Tree
August 6th, 2010
11:41 am
[...] Leave a Comment The Atlanta Journal Constitution‘s Tim Tucker yesterday released a list of 49 applicants who have applied for UGA’s vacant athletic director [...]
rtsr
August 6th, 2010
11:43 am
Gator Mike :
I would like to also thank you for a refreshing observation. I think the Bulldog faithful know whats best and hopefully the President will too. Good luck except on that famous last weekend in October.
joe
August 6th, 2010
11:46 am
The perfect hire would be Ray Goof
Lee Corso
August 6th, 2010
11:51 am
Clarksa, not so fast my friend!
Dr. Phil
August 6th, 2010
11:56 am
When Adams came to UGA, he fired or demoted all of the in-place administrators and installed four vice presidential flunkees, one of whom was a state legislator with no experience in education. Adams said that he fired Jim Donnan over player behavior issues, which were miniscule compared to those under Richt. We know the Dooley story, which was in part due to Dooley’s refusal to appoint the women’s gym coach, and main squeeze of married Regent Leebron, as assistant AD. Clearly Evans was just another puppet. I doubt that McGarrity will be offered the job. Adams will again demonstrate his commitment to political correctness by hiring the first Hispanic, Asian, Eskimo, openly gay, cross dressing, etc. AD at the university level. We know now that much of Adams performance was an audition for the NCAA post. When Adams finally leaves, retires, or otherwise goes away, it will take years for the University to recover.
BrokeBackJacket
August 6th, 2010
11:58 am
Joe…my condolences to you and yours…you are one DUMB arse!
Ray Goff is the most perfect example of “being at the right place at the wrong time” in history! To this day he remains a DGD…just without a home!
In the meantime…since you have no idea what you are talking about…Ray is an ultra successfuf business man, and without a doubt could buy and sell you in a heartbeat and never miss those bucks!
Only a guess but I bet that ........
August 6th, 2010
12:10 pm
This is a rough guess but I’ll bet that most of the UGA haters on this site are obamarons. If they hired Obama as AD of the U of G, then and then only would the UGA hate stop. I suspect that the UGA haters on this and other local sites are urban punks that do not attend any school but hate UGA out of jealousy. Fine, let them keep it up. Tha and their mom’s PC are all that they have. that and their big uranges.
I have pals from nearly every school in the SEC and even some less fortunate friends from the hapless ACC ( GT was ACC Champ and finished 2009 as 17th? or was it 13th) and they do not hate UGA like the posters on this site.
Why and how can that be? They have careers, another thing that the local UGA haters do not have.
Go Dogs and keep counting the BIG TIME MONEY coming in for UGA.
Hunker Down
August 6th, 2010
12:10 pm
While the exit of Damon Evans gave the University a black eye it is my belief that sometimes you need to take a slight step backwards before a larger step forward. The quality of applicants exemplifies what a premier program UGA has and the desire for such a lofty position as AD. I am sure that when we select the next AD that it will be of the highest character and leadership obtainable. Luck forward to our continued growth both on and off the field. Go Dawgs!
The real champion builder at UGA
August 6th, 2010
12:16 pm
here is a name for UGA’s AD job:
Suzann Yoculan. Why? She IS a winner. She can manage the facilities and she knows how to project a serious, tough minded approach to her job.
I am a UGA grad, male, ultra conservative and would welcome her in that job. She IS a winner. We need someone who is beyond being a lap dog, bean counter, like the last guy. She can instill that winning attitude or the coaches can leave. That is the way it needs to be up there.
Go Dogs
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
August 6th, 2010
12:24 pm
McGarity. Seems obvious.
Panty Up
August 6th, 2010
12:32 pm
Will McGarity’s women at the clubs wear red or black panties? I heard he likes both colors!
SSIgator
August 6th, 2010
12:53 pm
BrokeBackJacket -
“Ray is an ultra successfuf business man”
You might want to give Ray a call. He is under water on a real estate deal he and his partners tried to scam on Glynn County. I am sure he could use your help.
GTax
August 6th, 2010
12:59 pm
Coaches know best!
(((( 17 – 21 ))))
Glory glory to the Jackets, their truth is marching on!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
August 6th, 2010
1:26 pm
McGarity is the best choice, by far. He has experience at a championship-caliber institution; he has worked extensively in the SEC; he has UGA ties; he has seen first-hand how Florida’s success has been generated in multiple sports; and I’ve heard that he has some solid recommendations from longtime Georgia folks…
For an AD job at a school the size of Georgia, I think only ADs or assistant ADs of comparable schools should be considered. A businessman, a former NFL exec, a sales director, an AD at a small school…. those are all noble professions, but I don’t think they are quite as prepared to run a top-10-nationally athletic program like Georgia’s. I think McGarity’s experience with a successful program like Florida makes him a perfect fit.
Now, President Adams, listen closely to Bulldog Nation and your advisors…. AND GO HIRE MCGARITY NOW!!!!!
Chuck Allison
August 6th, 2010
1:28 pm
What happened to Damon Evans? Did he resign or something? I thought he was such a role model for our kids.
Jeff
August 6th, 2010
1:29 pm
Hey real champion at 12:16 p.m.: The problem with Suzanne is that she would not command the respect from certain elements of the UGA community and CERTAINLY from the SEC and national AD community. She is seen by some as flighty and just a clapping seal who won a lot of gymnastics titles.
Now I’M not saying that… I have great respect for Coach Suzanne and think she should play a vital role in the UGA athletic program… but she would be excellent and marketing, direction donor programs and working with the school’s advancement office… I don’t know that people would give her the respect to make hard-line AD decisions (and I KNOW Mr. Adams wouldn’t… he would wind up being the de-facto AD because he would not let some woman run his athletic department.)
I hate to say that, but it’s true.
I stand by the statements that McGarity is overall the best choice.
Jeff
August 6th, 2010
1:30 pm
*should have said “would be excellent AT marketing, directing donor programs and working with the school’s advancement office*
GTOldSchool21
August 6th, 2010
1:41 pm
Heck, I played football at Tech and when I heard Bill Lewis’ son wanted to be your AD, I laughed.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
August 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
I’d like to throw my hat, er, my painted a$$ into the ring. I can be athletics director and return the school to glory. No more arrests, scandals, red panties in the lap (I don’t have a lap). Please get behind my painted a$$ and support Russ for athletics director.
TOMMY TROJAN
August 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
If you wanna win on the gridiron, there is only one choice Joe-Ja….MIKE GARRETT. Fight on!
I'm first
August 6th, 2010
1:59 pm
FIRST!
D mitchell
August 6th, 2010
2:04 pm
AD Job: How about CMR.
Kirby Smart
August 6th, 2010
2:09 pm
I am still available to rescue UGA.
Damon Evans
August 6th, 2010
2:11 pm
I make one mistake and you guys hang me out to dry.