New Shorter athletic director Lundy will be tasked with finding new football coach

A figure from the earliest days of Shorter University football is returning to the school to lead the athletic department in a time of uncertainty.

Shorter announced Friday the hiring of Tony Lundy as the university’s new athletic director. One of his first duties will be hiring a new head football coach for the program he helped shape.

Shorter spokeswoman Dawn Tolbert confirmed Friday that Aaron Kelton, who was hired as the Hawks head football coach in January, 2016, was no lon- ger employed by the private institution and that finding his replacement would be a priority for Lundy once he begins his new position on Jan. 1.

A veteran educator and coach, Lundy has 25 years of coaching experience in football, and has spent the last seven years teaching and coaching at his alma mater, Cedartown High School.

Prior to that, Lundy was part of the inaugural coaching staff for Shorter Hawks football where he served as offensive coordinator, a position he held from January 2005 to June 2010.

“The best years of my life profession- ally have been at Shorter,” Lundy said in a release from the school. “I left because I wanted to have the opportunity to work at the same school where my daughter was a student. Whoever could have imagined that I would have this opportunity to return to a place that means so much to our family.”

Lundy went on to say that Shorter had been a part of his life since the 1980s when he met my wife there, who was a student there at the time.

“It’s so good to be at a school where the primary focus is on honoring Jesus Christ,” he stated in the release.

Kelton’s dismissal from Shorter comes after two seasons where the Hawks failed to win a game, going 0-22 during his time at Shorter.

Kelton was named the interim athletic director this past January following the departure of Kim Graham.

“We are excited to welcome Tony Lundy as head of our athletic program,” Shorter University President Dr. Don Dowless said in a release.

“He has deep ties to Shorter, having served as a member of the football coaching staff under legendary head coach Phil Jones.”