University of Georgia Athletics
New Budget, Facilities Update, President and Athletic Director Reports Highlight Spring Athletic Board Meeting
Friday, May 25, 2018
LAKE OCONEE -- A fiscal year 2019 budget of $143,319,301 was approved Friday by the University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors as the annual two-day spring meeting concluded.
UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity said the goal for the Athletic Association continues to be for every one of the Bulldog sports teams to be competing in its post season national championship competition.
"With the continuing goals and expectations we have in competition and academics, it's imperative to support our teams with the financial resources necessary to achieve those goals," said McGarity. "This budget reflects that support as we strive for excellence in all areas of our athletic program."
Board agenda items included reports by UGA President Jere W. Morehead, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity, and an update on current and future facilities projects.
The overall success of the UGA athletic program this past year was a topic mentioned in Thursday reports. Eighteen of Georgia's 21 sports earned spots in post season competition. Highlighting that success were performances by the NCAA national champion women's indoor track and field team, SEC and Rose Bowl champion and College Football Playoff runnerup football team, SEC champion and national runnerup equestrian, and additional top-10 NCAA finishes by men's indoor track and field (third), gymnastics (seventh), women's tennis (elite eight) and men's swimming and diving (10th). Baseball, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field are currently in post season NCAA competition.
"Looking across all 21 sports—fall and spring—I cannot recall in recent memory a stronger year for Georgia Athletics," said President Jere W. Morehead, "and the year is far from over. Teams are still competing, with championship aspirations. The tremendous success we are witnessing this year is a testament to our commitment to excellence in all of our sports."
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McGarity's presentation included a summary of record-setting year-end financial reports:
McGarity singled out the April 30 event celebrating the naming of the William Porter Payne and Porter Otis Payne Indoor Athletic Facility. Billy Payne and his family were honored by notable attendees including President Morehead, former coach and director of Athletics Vince Dooley, CBS announcer Jim Nantz, golf hall of famer Jack Nicklaus, former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, current Chairman of Augusta National Fred Ridley, and UGA head football coach Kirby Smart.
Deputy Director of Athletics for Operations Josh Brooks updated the Board on several facility projects including the Sanford Stadium West End Zone addition, the Boyd Golf Center, and the new video board at the Ramsey Center Gabrielsen Natatorium all of which are completed or nearing completion. Also include were feasibility studies on the grandstand and indoor court upgrades to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex along with the construction of locker room/office complex at the UGA Equestrian center.
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In other Board action, Faculty Athletics Representative David Shipley presented the academic report. Included in his remarks were:
Special presentations were also included in the two-day meeting.
A session on student-athlete wellness was led by UGA Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Ron Courson. Assisting in the presentation on student-athlete wellness were Dr. David Paulk, University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAA)/Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Director of Behavioral Medicine, UGAA Behavioral Medicine Coordinator Lovie Tabron, UGAA Clinical Counselor Charlotte Warren, and UGAA sports psychologist Drew Brannon.
Deputy Director of Athletics for Academics Ted White and four student-athletes presented a session on the student-athlete experience providing insights into the lives of student-athletes at UGA. Participating were student-athletes John Courson, Blake Atmore, Caroline Ostman, and Juwan Parker.
Reports were also presented by UGA student representatives on the Board: Jacob Fucetola, Summer Burnett, and Jonathan Pelham.
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LAKE OCONEE -- A fiscal year 2019 budget of $143,319,301 was approved Friday by the University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors as the annual two-day spring meeting concluded.
UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity said the goal for the Athletic Association continues to be for every one of the Bulldog sports teams to be competing in its post season national championship competition.
"With the continuing goals and expectations we have in competition and academics, it's imperative to support our teams with the financial resources necessary to achieve those goals," said McGarity. "This budget reflects that support as we strive for excellence in all areas of our athletic program."
Board agenda items included reports by UGA President Jere W. Morehead, J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Greg McGarity, and an update on current and future facilities projects.
The overall success of the UGA athletic program this past year was a topic mentioned in Thursday reports. Eighteen of Georgia's 21 sports earned spots in post season competition. Highlighting that success were performances by the NCAA national champion women's indoor track and field team, SEC and Rose Bowl champion and College Football Playoff runnerup football team, SEC champion and national runnerup equestrian, and additional top-10 NCAA finishes by men's indoor track and field (third), gymnastics (seventh), women's tennis (elite eight) and men's swimming and diving (10th). Baseball, softball, and men's and women's outdoor track and field are currently in post season NCAA competition.
"Looking across all 21 sports—fall and spring—I cannot recall in recent memory a stronger year for Georgia Athletics," said President Jere W. Morehead, "and the year is far from over. Teams are still competing, with championship aspirations. The tremendous success we are witnessing this year is a testament to our commitment to excellence in all of our sports."
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McGarity's presentation included a summary of record-setting year-end financial reports:
- The Magill Society, created in 2015, has generated $71 million in signed pledges from 857 donors which has provided funding for the new Payne Indoor Athletic Facility, Jack Turner Soccer Facility, new Boyd Golf Center Clubhouse, and the west end project at Sanford Stadium.
- The William C. Hartman Fund generated over $31 million.
McGarity singled out the April 30 event celebrating the naming of the William Porter Payne and Porter Otis Payne Indoor Athletic Facility. Billy Payne and his family were honored by notable attendees including President Morehead, former coach and director of Athletics Vince Dooley, CBS announcer Jim Nantz, golf hall of famer Jack Nicklaus, former Atlanta Mayor and UN Ambassador Andrew Young, current Chairman of Augusta National Fred Ridley, and UGA head football coach Kirby Smart.
Deputy Director of Athletics for Operations Josh Brooks updated the Board on several facility projects including the Sanford Stadium West End Zone addition, the Boyd Golf Center, and the new video board at the Ramsey Center Gabrielsen Natatorium all of which are completed or nearing completion. Also include were feasibility studies on the grandstand and indoor court upgrades to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex along with the construction of locker room/office complex at the UGA Equestrian center.
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In other Board action, Faculty Athletics Representative David Shipley presented the academic report. Included in his remarks were:
- Recent NCAA post-graduate scholarships were awarded to two UGA Olympians, track star Keturah Orji and swimmer Gunnar Bentz.
- Four UGA teams earned special recognition from the NCAA for their Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores which were among the top ten percent nationally: men's basketball, women's cross country, women's golf, and volleyball.
- The overall spring GPA for all student-athletes was 3.09, second highest in recorded history for a spring semester.
- The highest female sport team GPA for spring was women's track and field with a 3.44 average. Highest among the men's teams was cross country with a 3.27.
Special presentations were also included in the two-day meeting.
A session on student-athlete wellness was led by UGA Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Ron Courson. Assisting in the presentation on student-athlete wellness were Dr. David Paulk, University of Georgia Athletic Association (UGAA)/Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center Director of Behavioral Medicine, UGAA Behavioral Medicine Coordinator Lovie Tabron, UGAA Clinical Counselor Charlotte Warren, and UGAA sports psychologist Drew Brannon.
Deputy Director of Athletics for Academics Ted White and four student-athletes presented a session on the student-athlete experience providing insights into the lives of student-athletes at UGA. Participating were student-athletes John Courson, Blake Atmore, Caroline Ostman, and Juwan Parker.
Reports were also presented by UGA student representatives on the Board: Jacob Fucetola, Summer Burnett, and Jonathan Pelham.
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Highlights from the 2017-18 Academic Year
- Football team won the 2017 SEC Championship, advancing to the College Football Playoff with a win in the Rose Bowl and appearance in the national championship game in Atlanta;
- Epic trip to Chicago and South Bend for weekend of donor engagement and football game at Notre Dame;
- Kirby Smart named National Head Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Foundation;
- Women's indoor track and field team won the NCAA Championship, which marks the first time a UGA track and field team has won a national championship;
- Equestrian won the 2018 SEC Championship, finished in second place at the national championships, and head coach Meghan Boenig was named SEC Coach-of-the-Year;
- Volleyball finished with a 22-12 record (10-8 in SEC) in Tom Black's first year as head coach; the one year turnaround in NCAA rpi (from 189 to 56) proved to be the largest turnaround in NCAA volleyball history;
- Men's swimming and diving finished in 10th place at the NCAA's, marking the 6th straight year our men have finished in the top 10, as well as 10 of the last 11 years as well; women's swimming and diving finished on 11th place;
- Women's basketbalexperienced an outstanding season, ending with a 26-7 record and a national ranking of 17; finished tied for second in the SEC, and earned a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament; hosted first two rounds of NCAA play in Stegeman Coliseum;
- Gymnastics sustained a rash of injuries throughout the year, and was still able to qualify for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis on April 20, 2018 – a remarkable accomplishment by first year head coach Courtney Kupets Carter – finished in 7th place at the NCAA Championships;
- Baseball, softball, men's and women's track and field will compete in NCAA competition throughout the remainder of May and early June;
- Named Tom Crean as head men's basketball coach on March 15, 2018;
- In conjunction with the UGA Department of Geography, successfully hosted the total eclipse viewing event in Sanford Stadium on August 21, 2017, attracting a crowd of 20,000, which was claimed to be the largest classroom ever in the state of Georgia;
- Successfully completed the renovation of Stegeman Coliseum with new video board, new LED lights, new sound system, new graphics and branding, and new seating throughout arena;
- Improved the fan experience in Sanford Stadium with "grab-and-go" concession concepts, which expedited wait times in line at concession stands; concept now in place at all athletics venues due to expediting flow through concession lines; at Foley Field, installed technology that provided instant feedback on fan experiens in the rest rooms and concessions stand;
- All rest rooms in Sanford Stadium fully renovated with new flooring, lights and fixtures;
- Successfully completed the renovation of the Boyd Clubhouse at the UGA Golf Course;
- On schedule to complete the west end zone renovation project in Sanford Stadium by July 2018;
- On schedule to complete the video board enhancements at the Gabrielsen Natatorium in June 2018;
- Planning continues for historical graphic enhancements in Sanford Stadium for the 2018 season;
- Planning for tennis complex enhancements and equestrian facility improvements in motion with Campus Architects;
- Introduction of new fan engagement services (the Silver Dogs) for the 2018 football season, to replicate the experience at Notre Dame via coordinating efforts of Dr. Bill Barstow;
- Student-athletes earned a 3.11 GPA for the 2017 Fall Semester, which set a record for highest GPA in a semester;
- 57.6% of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 or better for the 2017 Fall Semester;
- Student-athletes earned a 3.09 GPA for the 2018 Spring Semester;
- 60.8% of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 or better for the 2018 Spring Semester;
- Keturah Orji, Haley Clark, Keegan McGovern and Juwan Parker were recognized as the SEC Scholar Athletes for their respective sports;
- 2018 Hartman Fund donations expected to reach over $31 million, which establishes a new record for Hartman Fund giving;
- Baseball, gymnastics, men's and women's basketball educational funds all reached or exceeded their budgeted goals and accounted for $1.32 million;
- Scholarship endowments increased from $36.7 million to $41.4 million;
- Closed over 500 gifts of $25,000 or more in FY18;
- Over $71 million has been pledged to the Magill Society since its inception in September, 2015, and includes 857 members;
- Endowed the Thomas G. Cousins Director of Swimming position on behalf of Jack Bauerle;
- Named the indoor athletic facility for William Porter Payne and Porter Otis Payne on April 30, 2018, after a successful fund-raising campaign via friends of the Payne family in excess of $10 million;
- Successfully transitioned administratively with the departure of Carla Williams and Jim Booz to Darrice Griffin and Will Lawler;
- Strengthened the bond between current and former NFL players and current administration, resulting in numerous returns to campus for football weekends;
- Attracted 82,184 fans to the G-Day game on April 21, 2018 – a full house considering the construction in the west end zone eliminated seating in the affected areas;
- UGA Sports Communication staff was recognized by the Football Writers Association of American as one of the Super 11 award winners, which is awarded as one of 11 best performing sports information departments in the Football Bowl Subdivision. This marked the sixth time UGA has received this award;
- Volleyball, women's golf, women's cross country and men's basketball were honored by the NCAA for earning multiyear Academic Progress Rates (APR) in the top 10% of all squads in each sport;
- Keturah Orji (track and field) and Gunnar Bentz (swimming) were awarded a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. The University of Georgia now has had 81 student-athletes earn a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, and the swimming program has produced 39 of those recipients;
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