During the open portion of the Georgia Athletic Board executive committee’s meeting Monday morning, university president Michael Adams confirmed what was first reported Sunday morning.
Damon Evans is out as UGA’s director of athletics.
“Yesterday Damon Evans offered his resignation and I accepted,” Adams said.
The move comes as little surprise given the fallout from his DUI arrest last week and, especially, the details that emerged when the police report was released two days later. Evans, before the report was released, stated in a press conference that resigning was not a consideration; after the release of the report, Evans had no choice but to give up his post.
Evans, while disgraced as he exits the university, will not go away empty handed. He’ll receive three months salary (approximately $137,000) as well as a $100,000 longevity bonus payable on Aug. 1.
The two sides negotiated a settlement following a meeting between Evans and the school’s attorney Sunday morning.
While Adams said he “will not discuss future leadership of Athletics Department until tomorrow”, Florida associate AD Greg McGarity and UGA associate AD Carla Williams are being mentioned as potential replacements.
UPDATED 12:29 p.m. ET: Here’s the full statement from university president Michael Adams on the resignation of Damon Evans.
“Yesterday, July 4, 2010, University of Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans submitted his resignation, which I have accepted. As I said on Thursday morning when I first learned of the situation, this is not an example of the kind of leadership that I expect our senior administrators to set. I have high regard for Damon personally; I care deeply about him and his family.
“Under a separation agreement and release endorsed today by the executive committee of the board of directors of the University of Georgia Athletic Association, Mr. Evans will receive a $100,000 longevity bonus for his prior service, in accordance with the terms of his contract, as well as 3 months’ salary as severance. We acknowledge the many positive accomplishments of his tenure, including an increased focus on the academic success of student-athletes, the overall financial strength of the athletic department and the hiring of many very good people as head coaches and senior leaders in the athletic department.
“I will address the future leadership of the athletic department during my regularly scheduled media briefing at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, in Mahler Auditorium at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.”
