New Augusta University AD Ryan Erlacher plans to 'move quickly'
By Aaron Smith | Sports writer
Ryan Erlacher was introduced as Augusta University’s new athletic director on Monday, Oct. 17, in the JSAC Ballroom, and he promised to “move quickly” to take over for the retired Clint Bryant.
“I am someone who works quickly,” he said. “I get after it and move fast, and hopefully you’re gonna see a lot of great things in the coming weeks and months.”
Erlacher said that his vision as the new athletic director aligns with the overall goals of the athletics department.
“My vision is one that has to be ‘our’ vision,” he said. “We’re going to continue to build culture and define our core values. We’re going to take pride in that, and we want to excel in the classroom.”
Erlacher replaces softball coach Melissa Brocato, who served as interim AD after Bryant’s retirement took effect in the summer. Bryant, a former men’s basketball coach for AU, was AD for 34 years.
“I look forward to getting into my office and to get to work,” Erlacher said at the press conference. “We have a great team here and I want us to reach our fullest potential.”
Erlacher comes to AU from Clayton State, where he had been athletic director for the last four years. Before that, he was at Flagler, so he is staying in the Peach Belt Conference family.
“I wanted to remain in the conference,” he said, “and that’s one of the reasons I chose to come to Augusta. Since the day I left my interview, I just felt the support was there for athletics, and I felt that this was a special place.”
At Clayton State, athletes maintained an overall grade-point average of 3.0 for the last eight semesters. For the last three years, Clayton has been named Winner of the Peach Belt Conference President’s Academic Award and has been a finalist on the national level.
“Academic success starts at the very top with our administration,” Erlacher said. “I have no doubt our program is going to be great academically. It’s what we can do now to get us even stronger and put us even more ahead of others in our conference.”
As for his vision of Jaguar athletics’ future, he looked to the past for the moment.
“Coach Bryant has left an unbelievable legacy,” Erlacher said. “We want to be the (NCAA) Division II program others are looking to.”
Contact Aaron Smith at madsmith@augusta.edu.
Ryan Erlacher addresses a packed JSAC Ballroom as he is introduced to the Augusta community. At the top of the page, Erlacher talks to journalists about his plans for AU’s athletic program. (photos by Madison Keel)
