GEORGIA ATHLETICS McGarity gets extension, raise, but details not disclosed

Georgia football schedule will feature Auburn earlier, Tennessee later in 2020.

Greg McGarity has been doing a lot of talking lately about the future. To date, though, that has been about the University of Georgia’s future, not his.

But the Bulldogs’ athletic director had no choice but to address his future on Wednesday as UGA President Jere Morehead made it part of the agenda for the Athletic Association’s board of directors meeting.

Morehead recommended to the board that McGarity be given an extension and raise to continue as the university’s top administrator for athletics. Morehead’s recommendation, made in executive ses- sion, was unanimously approved.

Morehead said that McGarity’s contract and “compensation” were discussed in executive session. However, no other details were discussed in open session and there was no additional commentary made by Morehead or board members.

McGarity, 63, has been athletic director since succeeding Damon Evans in August 2010. His current contract, which was extended by two years in 2015, was due to expire on June 30. McGarity’s salary of $675,000 ranked 13th among the SEC’s 14 athletic directors as of last fall.

McGarity is credited with hiring coach Kirby Smart, who has taken the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship game each of the last two years and to the national championship game after the 2017 season. Georgia is expected to open the 2019 season as a Top 5 team again.

Football schedule shake-up: The Georgia football team will play Auburn earlier in the season and Tennessee later in the season beginning in 2020, Morehead announced Wednesday.

The Bulldogs have faced the Tigers in November every season since 1937. In recent years, Georgia and Tennessee have met in late September/early October.

Auburn has been vocal about moving the Georgia game because it has traditionally faced Alabama just two weeks later.

McGarity assured that the new schedule setup was fully vetted by Smart.

“Absolutely. Sure,” McGarity said. “Again, I’d just make the statement that if there are any issues that our staff has, we’d voice that. But I think Kirby will be very comfortable with the schedule that you’ll see in 2020.”

Greg McGarity