How Georgia athletics, SEC are trying to cast a wide net for hiring coaches, administrators

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks wants to “grow the pipeline,” for coaches, ADs and administrators of the next generation.

To do that, he’s looked to some graduating students from underrepresented backgrounds to fill internships and assistant jobs to get their foot in the door, hiring former Bulldog athletes for roles in development and the business office.

In his more than three years as AD, Brooks has made 10 head coaching hires. Two of them—track coach Caryl Smith-Gilbert and soccer coach Keidane McAlpine—are Black.

“Every search for me is an open search,” Brooks said. “I want the best candidate for the University of Georgia, but I think when you truly have an open search, that’s when you get great candidates like Caryl Smith-Gilbert and Keidane McAlpine.”

Both came to Georgia from Southern Cal already having won national titles.

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McAlpine led the program to its first SEC tournament title and just its second Sweet 16. The men’s track team this indoor season is ranked No. 12 and the women No. 13 nationally.

The SEC in 2021 passed Bylaw 23 to “help guide hiring practices,” at schools for AD, head coaches and senior women’s administrators.

Southern Company chairman, president and CEO Chris Womack spoke to coaches, ADs and others at the league’s spring meeting last year “to help us to think about how we build and grow diversity within our staff and leadership ranks,” commissioner Greg Sankey said then. The conference also began an “opportunity forum,” program for emerging leaders from underrepresented groups to meet with chancellors, presidents, ADs and search firms.

A year earlier, SEC football and…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-athletics-sec-trying-cast-090413774.html

Author : Athens Banner-Herald

Publish date : 2024-02-28 09:04:13

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