Wilson named Assistant Athletic Director
Jimmy Wilson, head golf coach and director of golf at Little Fishing Creek Golf Course, has just been hired as the new GCSU assistant athletic director and will start his full-time position beginning April 16th.
Wilson fills the void left by Brad Muller who left in October to pursue a job as the communications director for the alumni association at his alma mater, the University of South Carolina, after spending 10 years at GCSU.
Wilson played for the golf team during his time as a student at GCSU and went to work at Little Fishing Creek Golf Course right after he graduated in 1986. He began helping the golf team as a volunteer coach in 1995 before becoming the head coach in ’97.
Since then, he has led the Bobcats to nine straight NCAA tournaments and taken five of those teams to the championship round. The team is currently ranked eighth in the country in the Golfstat and Coaches Polls.
The title of assistant athletic director is relatively new at GCSU and came partly due to the departure of Brad Muller in October.
“Brad Muller was here 10 years, and when he left we decided to split his job into two,” said Stan Aldridge, athletic director. “We requested a fee increase and combined that money with what was left from Brad’s job and created two positions; assistant A.D. and sports information director, who is Al Weston.”
Aldridge said that the athletic department decided to combine the job of assistant athletic director and golf coach partly because that was the only way they could fit it into their budget, and partly because they know Wilson could do a great job.
“Last year we got the money to make golf coach a full time paid position,” Aldridge said. “We did a nationwide search for an assistant A.D./golf coach and we decided unanimously that Jimmy was the best man for the job.”
Wilson is excited about the opportunity to work for GCSU full time.
“I really want to be an asset to this university,” Wilson said. “I already know a lot of people in this community and I’m looking forward to a new challenge.”
GCSU now has two assistant athletic directors. The other assistant is tennis coach Steve Barsby. Barsby makes sure all athletic programs comply with conference regulations, including player eligibility, team budgets and informing media correspondents.
While Aldridge says the athletic department works together as much as possible, Wilson’s specific duties include organizing budgets for faculty and staff, as well as fundraising and community relations.
Despite Wilson’s success as a coach, he’s still not content to dwell on his past accomplishments.
“No matter what happens we are going to continue to build this program,” said Wilson. “Our ultimate goal is to win a NCAA championship and we haven’t done it yet.”
Wilson’s two decades as head honcho at Fishing Creek have left some big shoes for long-time friend Kyle Wall to fill.
“It’s going to be a lot different without Jimmy around,” said Wall. “I consider him a best friend and I hate to see him go, but I know he’s going to do a great job at the college.”
Steve Barsby
- Troy St. Alumnus: 1997
- Job Titles: Head Tennis Coach and Assistant Athletic Director.
Barsby’s specific duties include coaching the tennis team as well as making sure all athletic programs comply with conference regulations.
Barsby has led the women’s team to 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the men to seven in the past 12 years.
Jimmy Wilson
- GCSU Alumnus: 1986
- Job Titles: Head Golf Coach and Assistant Athletic Director.
Wilson’s specific duties include coaching the golf team, organizing budgets for faculty and staff and fundraising and community relations.
Wilson has has led the golf team to nine straight NCAA tournaments and taken five of those teams to the championship round.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 13 2007. Filed under Sports.
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