Brooks and Lawler Receive UGAAA Promotions

ATHENS --- University of Georgia Deputy Director of Athletics Josh Brooks has been promoted to Senior Deputy Director and Executive Associate Director of Athletics Will Lawler has been promoted to Deputy Director for Compliance according to an announcement Thursday by J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity.

"Josh has provided outstanding leadership throughout his two stints at the University of Georgia," said McGarity. "Josh is highly respected throughout all levels of the University and is very familiar with the daily operations of our department. He's building a national reputation as a rising star among athletic administrators in the Power 5."

"Will has brought a very diverse skill set to the University of Georgia and his leadership in our compliance programs have been outstanding," McGarity continued. "Will has had a profound impact on our program and we are thankful for his leadership in these critical areas."

Lawler joins other Deputy Directors Darrice Griffin, Magdi El Shahawy, Stephanie Ransom and Matt Borman on the athletic leadership team.

"Greg McGarity has assembled, in my view, the finest senior athletic staff anywhere," President Jere W. Morehead stated. "He has created quality and depth everywhere in the Georgia Athletic Association. I have particularly relied on the leadership and expertise of Josh Brooks in advancing our many capital facility projects and envisioning the future growth and positioning of Georgia athletics in a rapidly changing athletic environment."

"Will Lawler has been a tremendous addition to our leadership team, particularly with respect to our work with the NCAA and the SEC," Morehead said. "We are very fortunate he left the SEC to join UGA two years ago and provide us with his expertise and guidance on a variety of key matters."

Morehead serves as Chair of the Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors and Vice President of the Southeastern Conference.

Josh Brooks

Josh Brooks returned to UGA in 2016 after serving as Director of Athletics at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., then working as Deputy Athletics Director at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Prior to his time at Millsaps and ULM, Brooks served at UGA as Director of Football Operations and the Assistant and Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations.

Brooks oversees Internal Operations & External Operations and leads the Athletic Department's planning for facility expansion and construction, including the recent $63 million improvement to the West End Zone of Stanford Stadium and the current $80 million expansion and renovation of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. Brooks directly oversees the game-day operations for football and continually integrates data and research to help improve the game-day experience. Administratively, Brooks serves as the sports supervisor for football, track and field and cross country.

At ULM, Brooks' biggest impact was seen in ticket revenue and capital campaigns. In his first year, Brooks oversaw football season ticket sales and produced the largest season ticket revenue in Warhawk history. He also worked closely with the ULM Athletics' Foundation on their major fundraising events including the Night of Champions, Pursuit, and Meet the Coaches Events. Under his guidance and leadership, the Night of Champions became the largest fundraiser in ULM Athletics' History.

During his time at Millsaps, Brooks revamped the Majors' game-day experience. He created the kid's zone, specialized concessions and partnerships with youth sports leagues. He established game-day partnerships with the Jackson Public Schools, the Jackson Zoo, the National Guard and the Boy and Girl Scouts of America. This enhanced experience helped Brooks solicit over $100,000 in sponsorship opportunities and raising attendance by 300 percent.

Brooks also established a department-wide fundraising campaign that led to a 150 percent increase in Major-Club donations. Capping off this fundraising campaign was the creation of a standalone Hall of Fame event at the Capital Club and the Mary Ann Edge Golf Tournament held at Patrick Farms Golf Club.

The Majors also saw great athletic success in Brooks' first year. The Majors enjoyed two Southern Athletic Association (SAA) regular season championships, captured by the men's soccer team and the women's basketball team. The Millsaps' baseball team also earned a trip the NCAA West Regional. The student-athletes also shined in the classroom in Brooks' first year. Millsaps' student-athletes had an overall grade-point-average of 3.0 in the 2014-15 academic year. Over 130 Majors' earned Academic All-Conference honors.

A native of Hammond, La., he graduated from LSU with a degree in Kinesiology and completed his Master's degree in Sport Management from UGA. He and his wife, Lillie, have three boys James, Jackson, & Davis.

Will Lawler

Will Lawler, was named Executive Associate Athletic Director for Compliance at the University of Georgia in January 2018 after serving as Assistant Commissioner for Compliance at the Southeastern Conference since January, 2013.

Lawler oversees all areas of SEC, NCAA and UGA compliance and serves as an athletic liaison with the University of Georgia General Counsel's Office. Prior to joining the SEC office, Lawler served as Director of Compliance at the University of Tennessee in 2012 and 2013.
His duties with the SEC included serving as the staff liaison to the SEC's Faculty Athletics Representatives and Compliance Directors, as well as serving as SEC member institution's primary contact for NCAA and SEC rule interpretations His role also included advising member institutions regarding various other NCAA and SEC matters.

At Tennessee Lawler was responsible for coordinating various aspects of the Volunteers' compliance program. He also served as the compliance department's liaison to Tennessee's Faculty Athletics Representative, the Registrar's Office, the Admissions Office and the Thornton Academic Center.

Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, Lawler was the Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance at Western Kentucky (2011-12), Compliance Coordinator at Arkansas State during the 2010-11 academic year, and served four years as an attorney with the law firms of Adams and Reese and Carr Allison, both located in Birmingham.

Lawler is a 2002 graduate of Samford University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history as a Dean's List student and was a member of the school's football team. He earned a Juris Doctorate, graduating cum laude from Samford's Cumberland School of Law, in May 2006.

University of Georgia Athletics

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