UGA Athletics Board Convenes for Winter Meeting
February 25, 2025 | General
ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors held its annual winter meeting Tuesday afternoon at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel.
Seven Georgia athletic programs currently in competition are ranked in the top 10, including No. 2-ranked women's tennis, which won the 2025 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor National Championship.
The impressive start to the spring sports season and the Bulldogs' record-setting 3.26 GPA in the fall of 2024, highlighted presentations from J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks, president Jere W. Morehead and faculty athletics representative David Shipley.
Highlights of Brooks' remarks
- Georgia student-athletes compiled the highest term GPA in school history with a 3.26 in Fall 2024.
- Men's Basketball boasted a 3.31 GPA — the highest in program history.
- 72 percent of Georgia student-athletes earned a "B" or above average last fall.
- Brooks highlighted NCAA singles champion Dasha Vidmanova, Georgia soccer's third-straight NCAA tournament appearance and football's SEC title.
- Georgia football legends Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey turned in a pair of impressive rookie seasons in the NFL; six former Bulldogs played for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
- Brooks praised equestrian's Caitlin Lyons for being named one of nine finalists for NCAA Woman of the Year. In addition, men's swimmer Luca Urlando set the UGA, SEC, American and World record in the 200-yard butterfly and track and field star Marc Minichello received the NCAA Today Top 10 Award.
- In addition, women's tennis earned the 2025 ITA National Title and gymnastics is ranked No. 9 nationally — its first top-10 ranking since 2021.
- Baseball and softball are both ranked in the top 10. Baseball is at No. 6 and softball is ranked No. 10.
- The Georgia Bulldog Club has raised $204 million of its $300 million goal. That campaign ends June 30, 2027.
- Construction projects at Foley Field and the Jack Turner Softball Stadium are complete.
- A design study for Stegeman Coliseum lights and sound is ongoing, with an estimated completion date of Fall 2025.
- There is also a design study underway for football practice field improvements. A full funding request will come Fall 2025, and construction is estimated to start January 2026.
- The new track and field facility is scheduled to be completed January 2026.
Highlights of Prof. Shipley's remarks
- Women's golf led all sports with a 3.68 GPA last fall. Men's tennis led all men's sports with a 3.57 GPA.
- Swimmers Abby McCulloh and Jackson Bates are this year's H. Boyd McWhorter Award nominees.
- Gigi Grant (women's tennis) and Chaz Chambliss (football) are this year's Davis Award nominees.
- 102 Georgia student-athletes made the 2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.
- Football's Malaki Starks is one of three national finalists for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Award.
- The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association recently selected both of Georgia's swimming and diving teams for the Scholar All-American Award.
- 26 student-athletes graduated on Dec. 13.
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