ATHENS -- Matt Borman, Georgia’s deputy athletic director for development since 2017, is leaving to accept a similar position at LSU.
Borman oversaw the most successful fundraising period in the history of Georgia athletics over the past four years. His tenure coincided with the ascension of football coach Kirby Smart and the advent of the Magill Society donor group. The Magill Society has grown to more than 1,300 members and has raised nearly $170 million in pledges and donations for capital building projects. The latest is the $80 million football operations addition at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.
Borman told the AJC he does not leave with anything but good feelings for UGA.
“My family and I have loved every second of our time in Athens, and I loved working at Georgia,” Borman said Friday. “LSU just came to me with an opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. It’s going to be great for my career and great for my family. But it was a very difficult decision to leave Athens and UGA.”
Borman has long been considered a future athletic director and was given consideration for the post that came open with Greg McGarity’s retirement in December. But that position ultimately went to Josh Brooks, who officially took over full time Jan. 6.
“Matt has been a tremendous asset to our athletic program over these last four years,” Georgia AD Josh Brooks said in a statement from UGA on Friday afternoon. “He has made extensive and meaningful contributions to our overall Bulldog Club and development office in many areas of importance. Matt has provided leadership in several initiatives during his time at UGA which has contributed to record-setting fund raising opportunities. We will miss him but wish him and his family all the best.”
Borman came to UGA from West Virginia as a fundraising senior administrator with the clear objective of becoming an athletic director as soon as possible. Borman had hoped to be considered a candidate to succeed Greg McGarity when the Bulldogs’ 10-year athletic director decided to retire in November. However, he was not among those to be interviewed.
At LSU, Borman will replace Rick Perry as president and CEO of LSU’s Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF). The TAF operates almost as a separate entity from LSU athletics. Scott Woodward took over as LSU’s athletic director last year after serving as Texas A&M’s AD from 2016-19.
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