University of Georgia Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Deputy Athletic Director for Legal Affairs & Player Management/Assistant General Counsel for Athletics
- Email:
Will Lawler serves on the executive leadership team for Georgia Athletics, where he plays a strategic role in navigating the rapidly evolving college sports landscape.
As Deputy Athletic Director for Legal Affairs and Player Management, Lawler provides legal counsel to the athletic department and works closely with the UGA Office of Legal Affairs on a variety of matters, including NIL laws and implementation, contracts, litigation strategy, and policy development. He also advises the Director of Athletics and senior leadership to ensure timely, practical decisions that align with institutional priorities and an evolving regulatory environment.
Lawler oversees Georgia’s player management team, with primary responsibility for player negotiations and agent relations. He also supports roster strategy and other efforts that contribute to program stability and competitive success. In addition, he serves as sport administrator for baseball and provides executive oversight of the compliance department.
Before joining Georgia in 2018, Lawler spent five years with the Southeastern Conference, advising member institutions on governance and legislative matters. His earlier experience includes leadership roles at the University of Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas State, as well as a legal career in commercial litigation in Birmingham, Alabama.
A graduate of Samford University and its Cumberland School of Law (cum laude), Lawler was a Dean’s List student and a member of the football team during his undergraduate years.
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