MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Georgia College & State University Department of Athletics and Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Bruce Harshbarger announced the hiring of Jud Damon as Director of Athletics today (June 6). Damon currently serves in the same role at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Damon spent eight seasons as the SCAD athletics director. Over his first seven seasons, 81 SCAD teams appeared in postseason competition and every SCAD team logged a winning record in the 2001-02 academic year.

"Jud has not only been a sound leader and administrator in college athletics, he's been a program builder," said Harshbarger. "He led SCAD through a transition from non-scholarship to scholarship athletics, expanded their program offerings, and initiated significant fundraising and community service programs. During his time there, SCAD's athletic teams not only posted winning records in the Florida Sun Conference, they led the conference in academic achievement and All-Academic honors. The personal values and skills he brings to GCSU are an excellent match for GCSU."

Damon involvement was crucial in adding a varsity men’s and women’s swimming program and varsity men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, as well as a fencing program at the club level. He led the department through the transition from NCAA Division III status to membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under Damon’s direction, the college also achieved it’s first-ever membership in an athletic conference, joining the Florida Sun Conference in the fall of 2004.

One hundred one student-athletes have earned Academic All-District, Academic All-America or Scholar-Athlete honors since 2000. In addition, SCAD led the Florida Sun with 69 student-athletes named to the conference’s All-Academic teams in 2005. He instituted department-wide academic enhancement programs that have raised achievement levels for all SCAD athletic teams. Many SCAD teams have been honored with team academic awards and all teams maintain outstanding cumulative GPAs. In the 2006-07 academic year, the cumulative GPA of all SCAD student-athletes was 3.17.

In 2003, the college’s athletics department was honored at the NCAA National Convention with the Jostens/National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators Community Service Award.

Prior to coming to SCAD, he served as athletics director and head baseball coach at Trinity International University in Miami, Fla., where the athletics department saw much success under his leadership. Damon led the Trinity baseball team to the 1998 National Christian College Athletic Association Division I National Championship Tournament and set school records for victories in 1999 and 2000.

He previously served as assistant general manager of a Pittsburgh Pirates minor-league franchise, following a stint in the same capacity with the Montreal Expos. Damon began his career in college athletics in 1990 as assistant baseball coach at the University of Massachusetts.

Damon earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts. He was inducted into the University of Pennsylvania Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Damon and his wife, Catia, have three daughters, Victoria (7), Abigail (5) and Elizabeth (five months).

The GCSU Department of Athletics sponsors 10 NCAA Division II athletic programs over three seasons. As a Division II program, GCSU prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the Bobcats’ multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Follow the Bobcats and their positive impact on the Milledgeville community at www.gcsu.edu/bobcats.