MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama athletic director Joe Gottfried announced Tuesday that he will retire effective Aug. 1, ending a 28-year tenure with the university.
Gottfried made the announcement at a news conference at the Mitchell Center. University President Gordon Moulton will conduct a national search for his successor.
Gottfried Reflects
“It has been a terrific experience, I have been very fortunate to have been surrounded by an outstanding group of coaches, student-athletes, support and administrative staff,” Gottfried said. “To be able to have the success and accomplish the many things we have, you need to have the support of the President and the Board of Trustees. I have felt that has been a big plus, it made my job much easier.”
“Obviously I am very proud about what has been accomplished and to have been a member of the South Alabama family for 28 years,” he said. “It’s been important to me and my family. We will always be Jaguars and will continue to follow the progress of not only the athletic program but the University as well.”
Moulton credited Gottfried with leading the growth of the athletic department.
“Anyone who cares about University of South Alabama athletics owes a debt of gratitude to Joe Gottfried, who has led the growth and expansion of the Jaguar athletic program for more than a quarter century,” Moulton said. “He has guided Jaguar Athletics to new heights of accomplishment and has set the stage for greater achievement in the future. The entire University of South Alabama family appreciates his contribution, and we trust that he will remain a familiar face at Jaguar athletic events.”
Competitive Record
South Alabama has won the Sun Belt Conference’s Vic Bubas Cup, awarded to the league’s top overall athletic program across its sponsored sports, 10 times in a 13-year span. No other school in conference history has won the award more often.
During Gottfried’s tenure, South Alabama’s men’s and women’s teams have won 104 league championships, and Jaguar teams have competed in 54 NCAA championship events. Individuals have qualified for NCAA postseason competition 123 times, including two track and field athletes who won NCAA titles.
Seventy-five South Alabama student-athletes have earned All-America honors, and 62 Jaguar coaches have been named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in their sports. Ninety-five baseball players have signed professional contracts, 17 of whom reached the major leagues.
With the addition of football, the athletic department supports about 300 student-athletes, the most in its history. The Jaguars’ football program, led by head coach Joey Jones, is set to begin play this fall.
Academic Results
In the NCAA’s most recent Academic Progress Rate report, 13 of South Alabama’s 16 programs scored above the NCAA standard of 925. Eighty-three percent of Jaguar student-athletes have graduated during Gottfried’s tenure.
In 2007-08, 37 South Alabama student-athletes were named to the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List for grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher, and 32 more made the Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll with GPAs of 3.0 or higher.
Facilities and Events
Gottfried oversaw construction and renovation of numerous athletic facilities, including:
- The $30 million Mitchell Center
- A $3.5 million renovation of Stanky Field and a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse
- A $1 million football field house scheduled to open this summer
- A new softball field and a softball and soccer locker room and office complex
- Improvements to The Cage, the soccer facility
- The USA Track Complex
- The Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts
- The campus intramural fields
Plans call for a new academic center and upgrades to the track and field venue, including new seating, lights and locker rooms.
Gottfried also brought the Sun Belt Conference basketball tournament to Mobile for the first time in 1991.
