UGA Athletics Board Convenes for Fall Meeting

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors held its annual fall meeting Friday at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel. 

Highlights from J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks

– He began his remarks by recognizing new Georgia gymnastics coaches Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts, who each spoke to the board and thanked them for their support. 

– Georgia student-athletes compiled a 3.21 combined GPA — the highest GPA in an academic year in school history. The previous record was a 3.20 in 2022-23. 

– 33 athletes represented UGA at the Paris Olympic Games, winning six medals. 

– For the first time in school history, football, soccer and volleyball all began the year ranked in the top-25. 

– Brooks highlighted the completion of phase II of the Sanford Stadium South Side improvements. That projected was dedicated at a ceremony earlier on Friday. 

– The Jack Turner Softball Stadium project is scheduled to be complete this October; Foley Field is on schedule for a finish in February 2025; the new track and field complex is scheduled to be complete in January 2026.

– He also announced a design funding request for the Woodruff Football Practice Fields expansion. 

– Brooks gave an update on the Stegeman Coliseum master planning and renovation, prioritizing lighting and sound upgrades for the 2025-26 season. The video board and new premium area has been moved to phase II. 

– Executive Associate AD Ford Williams and Associate AD Christian Williams gave an update on pricing changes for 2025 Georgia football tickets. 

– Even with the increase in season ticket prices next year, UGA will remain in the bottom third of total ticket costs (ticket cost plus per-seat contribution) compared to SEC and Big Ten peer institutions. 

Highlights from President Jere W. Morehead

– UGA welcomed 6,200 first year students among more than 43,000 applicants this year.

– The average GPA of incoming students was 4.13, marking the eighth consecutive year that number exceeded 4.0.

– Among many notable rankings, Niche ranks Georgia No. 14 among public universities, Forbes ranks UGA No. 19 on list of top public universities and No. 13 best universities in the south.

– Morehead ended his remarks by praising Josh Brooks on being named to the NCAA Division I Council.

– Morehead also welcomed this year’s student-athlete representatives Abby McCulloh from women’s swimming and diving and Jalon Walker from football.

Academic Report from Faculty Athletics Representative Professor David Shipley

– The 2023-24 was a record-setting year. Georgia student-athletes compiled a 3.21 combined GPA — the highest GPA for an academic year in school history. 

– Women’s golf won the Faculty Athletics Rep Award for the highest GPA among women’s teams with a 3.63 GPA. Men’s tennis had the highest GPA for a male sport with a 3.55 GPA. 

– 57 Georgia student-athletes finished 2023-24 with 4.0 GPA; 168 student-athletes finished between 3.5 and 3.99; 324 were at or above a 3.0 (70.6 percent of all student-athletes)

–  The Joel Eaves Award goes to Abby McCulloh (women’s swimming and diving) and Jackson Bates (men’s swimming and diving) for the male and female student-athletes with the highest GPAs.