Coaches looking forward to working with new Jaguar AD Erlacher
By Madison Keel | Sports writer
Coaches and athletes welcomed new Augusta University athletic director Ryan Erlacher to campus at a press conference in the JSAC Ballroom on Oct. 17.
Erlacher replaces Clint Bryant, the former AU basketball coach who served 34 years as the university’s AD.
“We are looking forward to Ryan providing leadership to our university, athletic department and community,” said veteran AU men’s basketball coach Dip Metress, whose team made it to the NCAA Division II national championship game last March.
Volleyball Coach Sharon Quarles was impressed with Erlacher’s comments to a packed Ballroom.
“His excitement for athletics at the Division II level and what he brings to AU athletics in moving the needle forward,” said Quarles, who volleyball program has won four straight Peach Belt tournament titles and currently is in first place in the league standings. ”I’m impressed with his ideas of team and community and his collectiveness wanting to get the department involved together and work collectively.”
Quarles described briefly what an AD does for coaches.
“They’re like our backbone,” she said. “They try to provide the resources, support, care and concern that coaches need. I am looking forward to his guidance and leadership.”
The new AD plans to have one-on-one meetings with each coach. Right now, he is all ears.
“This an unbelievable athletic program,” Erlacher said. “My goal for us is: What can we do to elevate all of the amazing things you’re already doing. My goal is to hear what everyone in this room and everyone who is not in this room has to say and help us map out the future of Augusta athletics. It’s not my vision, it needs to be ‘our’ vision. I am anxious to learn from the coaches—what are their needs, what are their wants.”
Celeste Stewart, the interim women’s basketball coach, shared her thoughts on how Erlacher will fit into the AU athletic family.
“Being so personable plays a huge part with being able to connect with our team,” said Stewart, who took the reins after Millette Green left for Wake Forest to be an assistant coach over the summer. “For him, the team is the coaching and administration staff. It’s up to us to work together to help the student-athletes because it’s about them at the end of the day.”
Erlacher, who came to AU from Clayton State, told reporters that he would like to see more sports at the university. AU has eight women’s teams, including cheerleading. There are seven men’s teams, including cheerleader. The only sport that does not have a male counterpart is volleyball.
The Augusta AD said he has checked out all the sports facilities on campus.
“The golf facility and the arena are very exciting,” he said. “Everything looks really good. However, I’m a big facility guy, and I would love to build.”
Erlacher said he would look into building a track, which coaches in cross-country and track and field have long wanted..
“I don’t think any Peach Belt schools has a track,” he said. “I talked to administration last week about finding ways to build a track. I have no doubt we can work with administration and find some creative solutions, if you will—finding a way to bring a facility on or near campus, so that the track athletes can have some pride in the space that they would be using to compete. Not only that, but what advantage that would give us if we are the only school in the Peach Belt Conference that has a track.”
Erlacher was one of four finalists for the job, which originally had 87 applicants.
Russell Keen, AU’s executive vice president for administration, introduced Erlacher and said that community relations would be a key part of AU Athletics going forward.
“We want to see more blue across town,” Keen said. “I know that Ryan will take us to the next level.”
Melissa Brocato served as interim AD after Bryant retired on June 30. She will now return to coaching softball full time.
Aaron Smith and Angela Stephan also contributed to this story.
New Augusta University Athletic Director Ryan Erlacher speaks to the news media in the JSAC Ballroom. At the top of the page, Erlacher said he is evaluating all of the resources in the AU athletics program. (photo by Madison Keel)
