Josh Brooks rewarded with raise, contract extension as Georgia athletic director

ATHENS — Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks has been rewarded for his services, as the school announced a new contract extension and raise for Brooks.

The University of Georgia Athletic Association executive committee approved a raise for Brooks that increases his base salary by $125,000 each year on his contract. His salary will rise from $1,375,000 this year to $1,500,000. His deal has also been extended through June of 2031.

Brooks will be eligible to receive further pay from any incentives that come from student-athlete academic performance goals and final Learfield Directors Cup standings.

“Since his hiring, Josh Brooks has been an outstanding leader for Georgia Athletics and proven to be one of the nation’s most successful and widely respected athletic directors,” Georgia President Jere W. Morehead said. “I am pleased we have secured his long-term future with the University of Georgia.”

Brooks has served as the school’s full-time athletic director since January 2021, taking over for Greg McGarity.

“I want to thank President Morehead for his leadership and his unwavering support and guidance throughout my five years as athletic director,” Brooks said in a statement released by the school. “At the University of Georgia, I am surrounded by the brightest people in our profession. Without the colleagues I serve alongside every day, our coaches and student-athletes, none of these accomplishments are possible. My family and I are honored to be a part of the Bulldog family, and we look forward to many more years leading this academic and athletic powerhouse.”

During that time, Georgia has continued to complete various facility renovations, including Sanford Stadium, Foley Field and a new track-and-field complex set to open in 2026.

Georgia saw three separate sports — equestrian, women’s tennis and women’s track and field — win national championships last season, in addition to strong seasons in soccer, football, men’s basketball and baseball.

The extension comes just months after there was an opening at LSU, Brooks’s alma mater.

However, Brooks quickly put to rest any speculation by sharing a lengthy tweet explaining his commitment to Georgia.

“I have no interest in any other job,” Brooks said on Oct. 31. “My full focus remains on the University of Georgia, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans.

“I am very fortunate to work alongside President Morehead, the Athletic Association Board, Gov. Brian Kemp, and the Board of Regents, who share a deep commitment to excellence and to the success of Georgia Athletics.

“This is home to me, and I’m honored to play a part in the incredible progress we’ve made together. The best days for Georgia Athletics are still ahead, and I look forward to continuing to build on the championship standard we’ve established here in Athens.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who has won two national championships and three SEC championships since Brooks took over, had previously voiced his support of Brooks.

“Josh does an incredible job for us as a football program, but his benefit goes way beyond football,” Smart said. “He’s an athletic administrator that cares about this place. He wants to be great in all athletics. He cares about all the sports. It’s not just football. I mean, yeah, every AD wants football to be successful because that funds your athletic department. He makes no qualms about that. We need to be successful in the age of revenue sports. But his job is to support every athletic endeavor we have here at UGA, and he does that every year.”

This past year under Brooks, Georgia student-athletes set a new school record for the highest cumulative GPA in an academic season, with a 3.26.