South Alabama Athletics Director Joel Erdmann announces retirement

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - University of South Alabama Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann announced on Wednesday his plans to retire at the end of May.

Erdmann, the longest tenured athletic director in the Sun Belt Conference, has served as South Alabama’s director of athletics since July 2009.

“It has been a high honor and privilege for Tina and me to be at the University of South Alabama,” stated Erdmann for a news release. “The roles I have served in at South have all been rewarding, and to be the director of athletics has been a literal dream come true.”

Erdmann’s statement goes on:

“I must recognize our Board of Trustees for their steadfast commitment to the University and department. President Bonner’s vision and leadership is second to none and reinforced by Executive Vice President and Provost Andi M. Kent, Ph.D. People in the industry of collegiate athletics often refer to organizational alignment being key to a department’s success. There is no other campus in the nation better aligned from its board to its president, and throughout all parts of campus, than South Alabama.

“Our coaches, administrators and staff have inspired me each day as they demonstrate their devotion to our collective success. Our loyal supporters continue to propel us forward while we, the city of Mobile and the greater community we serve, embrace each other and grow together. Finally, I must thank our student-athletes. Simply put, they are our purpose, and hopefully we have touched their lives in ways which guide them to successful and enjoyable independent lives. I know that each of them has touched my life in immeasurable ways.

“South Alabama is an amazing university driven by great people. Its positive momentum is real and Tina and I will now, in a different way, continue to be Jaguars for life.”

Erdmann is the only athletic director South Alabama’s football program has ever known. He took over just one month before the Jaguars kicked off their inaugural season in August 2009.

Since then, he oversaw the project to move the football program completely on campus with the construction of Hancock Whitney Stadium and the Jaguar Training Center.

During his tenure, Erdmann completed more than $100 million in facility projects that have positively impacted every sport at South Alabama.

“In his 17 years as the leader of Jaguar Athletics, Dr. Erdmann mentored hundreds of student-athletes and witnessed innumerable special moments across all our teams,” said USA President Jo Bonner for the release. “Joel has made an indelible mark on South’s history, and, to the student-athletes, he is always their loudest cheerleader and greatest advocate.”

Under Erdmann’s leadership, the Jaguars have competed at a championship level. South Alabama Athletics was awarded the Vic Bubas Cup six times during Erdmann’s tenure, including four years in a row from 2014 through 2018. The Jaguars also compiled 41 Sun Belt Conference Championships and 52 NCAA postseason appearances with Erdmann at the helm of the department.

“Throughout his career, Dr. Erdmann understood that the ‘student’ always comes before the ‘athlete,’ and it shows when looking at the successful post-college careers of members of the Jaguar athletics family,” said Andi M. Kent, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost. “We are grateful to Joel for teaching our teams that the scoreboard is only one way to measure success.”

Bonner has appointed Dr. Daniel McCarthy to serve as South Alabama’s interim director of athletics. McCarthy has been at South Alabama since 2008 and has served in his current capacity as deputy athletic director since 2017.