Guide Front Pages - Georgia State University Athletics

Georgia State Cross-Country -Track & FieldMary McElroy became Director ofAthletics at Georgia State University inJuly 2005, as Georgia State joined theColonial Athletic Association (CAA) ayear earlier than planned. UniversityPresident Dr. Carl Patton took acalculated risk hiring McElroy as thefirst female Athletic Director at GeorgiaState, making her the only currentfemale African-American athleticsdirector at a non-historically blackcollege at the NCAA Division I level.Dr. Patton’s confidence inMcElroy has paid off handsomely asGeorgia State’s teams recorded twoCAA championships, five individualconference year-end awards and over 25all-conference recipients under herguidance. She has been able to fund forassistant coaches for designated sportsand increased the athletic departmentstaff, as well as develop and implementa Strategic Plan that established theathletic department’s vision and definedthe pathways to those objectives.The first year has also seenrecord development for financialsupport with regards to scholarships andincreased revenue streams. Facilityupgrades have seen improved lockerand training rooms in the Sports Arena.New partnerships with ISP Sports(sponsorships) and adidas (apparel)have also been reached.A three-phase plan for thebuilding of the Panthersville AthleticComplex has begun that will result innew practice fields, a soccer and trackand field stadium, new tennis courts,and locker room facilities for thoseteams. Upgrades are ongoing for thesoftball and baseball facilities alreadythere.The program is working withinthe framework of NCAA guidelines asstudent-athletes responded in their firstyear by posting the highest combinedgrade point average ever in schoolhistory.Mary McElroyAthletic Director2nd YearThe vision of being “the studentathlete’sfirst choice” is beginning to berealized as the recognition of the University’sstature and the CAA level of respect rise.McElroy graduated from the NavalAcademy (’87) where she spent four yearsas a student-athlete and then five years as aMarine Corps supply officer. Her athleticmanagement career began in 1992 as sheworked her way up to assistant athleticdirector at Navy. She was Senior WomanAdministrator and oversaw compliance for29 sports. She also served a stint as Directorof Alumni Services at Navy.Mary McElroy earned a master’sdegree in Management from Georgia Tech(‘00) and a certification from the ExecutiveManagement Program from the SportsManagement Institute (‘04). From 1999-00to 2004-05, McElroy was on the athleticmanagement team at Georgia Tech as theirSenior Associate A.D. and Senior WomanAdministrator. During that time, herresponsibilities included overseeing fivesports, including basketball, and supervisingthe game day operations for basketball as wellas the compliance staff.Within the NCAA and ACC,McElroy was appointed to the NCAAManagement Council in April 2005, and wasa member of the NCAA VolleyballCommittee. For the ACC, McElroy served aschairperson of the Softball Committee, wason the Women’s Basketball Committee, theHead Trainer’s Committee, the SeniorWoman Administrator’s Committee, and anAd Hoc Committee on student-athletewelfare.When the NCAA Women’s FinalFour was played in Atlanta in 2003, McElroywas the tournament manager. She was alsoon the Atlanta Local Organizing Committeefor the Men’s Final Four in Atlanta in 2002.As a student at the Naval Academy,McElroy played varsity basketball in theCAA. She was a captain of the club softballteam and still stays active athletically in localAtlanta softball leagues.A native of Great Mills, Md., she ismarried to a fellow Naval Academy graduate,Terry (‘86), and they have two sons, Darrinand Austin.-5-Dr. Carl V. PattonPresidentMatt GillettAssociate A.D. for FinanceCross-Country / Track & FieldSport AdministratorTredell DorseyStrength & ConditioningCoordinatorSheena WoodardAthletic Trainer