Keith Hatcher takes on AD duties at Mount de Sales

Mount de Sales is making a transition in its athletics program.

Keith Hatcher, who was hired in late 2013 as the Cavaliers’ football head coach, is adding the title of athletics director to his duties. He is taking over the AD role from former football head coach Robert Slocum, who will remain at the school in a fund-raising capacity as Director of Special Gifts and will serve as the athletics director emeritus.

“One of the things that is great about Keith is that he knows what Mount de Sales is all about,” Mount de Sales president David Held said. “He’s one of these guys who interacts well with all of our students. He will bring a lot to the table. We think a lot of him.”

Hatcher is a student of Slocum, having played football and basketball for the longtime Cavaliers coach. Hatcher worked in the college ranks for several years as an assistant to his cousin, Chris Hatcher, at Georgia Southern and Murray State, before returning to Mount de Sales.

Much of Hatcher’s work at the collegiate level was administrative. He served as football operations director and recruiting coordinator at both Georgia Southern and Murray State.

“Lots of that experience will be valuable,” Hatcher said. “There’s a great administrative team at Mount de Sales I’ll be working with, along with a lot of coaches who bring energy to athletics. It’s going to be really exciting.”

Slocum, meanwhile, will remain involved with athletics, serving with Hatcher as he helps direct several building projects on the school’s main campus in downtown Macon and the athletics campus on the city’s west side.

One of those projects will be improvements to the school’s baseball facility at Cavalier Fields that will take place this summer. The project will involve turf and drainage work, as well as the construction of a wall and net behind home plate.

“We’re keeping things in the family,” Slocum said. “He played football for me and basketball for me. He worked with me for a couple of years as a coach, and we talked to each other from time to time when he was coaching in college. I’ve made it clear that I’ve been looking to do this for some time. After 38 years, it’s time for the younger kids to take over.”

Said Hatcher, “This being Mount Sales, a place that has been very important to me and my family for a long time, this makes it a more exciting opportunity for me. Robert has done such a great job here for a long time, and he will serve as a great mentor for me.”

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Keith Hatcher takes on AD duties at Mount de Sales."