ATHENS — Frank Crumley was not a surprising choice to serve as Georgia’s interim athletics director given his longevity at the university.
Crumley received two degrees from Georgia and has been working at his alma mater since 1991.
While a committee comprised of UGA officials begins the search for a permanent replacement for Damon Evans, Crumley will lead the athletic department.
“I appreciate greatly Frank’s willingness to join us in taking on this task,” Adams said in a press conference Tuesday.
Crumley was promoted to executive associate athletics director for finance and administration in May of 2007, serving as the chief financial aid to the Athletic Department.
Saying he was equally, “as shocked,” as everyone else in the wake of Evans’ DUI arrest Wednesday and subsequent resignation four days later, Crumley added that he and Evans would remain friends.
“It surprised us because it was not characteristic of the Damon I knew,” Crumley said. “So I think we’re dealing with that. We’re still processing. It was less than a week ago and everybody’s lives changed just a little bit.”
Keeping the athletics department on its previous course is Crumley’s stated goal. He indicated that Evans has assembled a strong senior staff, and has current ongoing initiatives he intends to carry out, by allowing the current senior staff to carry on in their current capacity.
“Well I think we’re going to continue to do what we were doing before, which I think we have a great senior staff, great coaches; the entire athletic department is good,” Crumley said. “We’re going to continuing doing what we were doing—focusing on the student athletes.”
Adams and Crumley met with Georgia’s 22 coaches and members of senior staff Tuesday afternoon to discuss the future of the athletic department, and to make sure the everyone involved continues to move forward amid these problematic circumstances.
Adams said he first will look outside of the program to find a new AD, but Crumley is considered an internal candidate to fill the position.
“I think when Dr. Adams asked me to fill the interim role, my focus is on that role,” Crumley said. “Hopefully it’s sooner, rather than a drawn out process for all of us. Not to make light of it, but it’s going to be business as usual. We’ll build on the same things we were doing, stay focused on the student-athletes, and I think just continuing that path and we’ll be OK.”
