Greg McGarity, the University of Georgia’s athletic director for the past eleven years, will officially retire at the year’s end.
McGarity began his role within UGA athletics at the young age of ten, where he was a helper to then tennis coach Dan Magill. He served as the UGA women’s tennis coach from 1977-1981 before he began his roles as an administrative assistant and assistant athletic director for the Dawgs.
McGarity was the University of Florida’s No. 2 athletics official when UGA offered him the AD job back in 2010. He is an Athens native and graduate of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at Georgia. He graduated from the university in 1977 and was a letterman on the 1973 Georgia men’s tennis team.
The university made the announcement of McGarity’s retirement on Monday afternoon, after the news was reported first by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The university released a statement that included a quote from McGarity thanking the Bulldog Nation.
“I want to thank President (Jere) Morehead for all of his support and guidance over the years. 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, UGA’s deputy athletic director since 2016, will serve as the interim AD until the university finishes the search for who will fill the shoes of McGairty. Brooks is also a strong candidate for the position.
McGarity’s contract expired back in 2018 but president Jere Moorehead convinced him to sign two one-year extensions. McGarity made some killer executive decisions, including the hiring of football coach Kirby Smart as well as basketball coach Tom Crean.
A damn good dawg simply isn’t enough to describe Greg McGarity. All UGA fans, students, teachers, coaches and players will miss the man who gave so much back to his university and community. We wish McGarity all the best in the next chapter of his life, retirement.