Mary McElroy Position: Director of Athletics Institution: Georgia State University

Now in her fourth year as Director of Athletics, Mary McElroy has brought tremendous optimism, organization and leadership as well as a tireless work ethic to Georgia State University athletics.

McElroy is known for successfully launching a football program at Georgia State, to begin play in 2010. Along with the new program will also be women's lacrosse. McElroy also hired Rod Barnes in March 2007 to rebuild Georgia State basketball.

McElroy has led Georgia State into a smooth transition to the Colonial Athletic Association, where Georgia State moved in 2005-06.

In 2006, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) named McElroy as the NCAA Division I-AAA Administrator of the Year. In 2008, she was recognized by the Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) for advancing sports and athletes in the Atlanta area.

McElroy's vision for Georgia State to be "the student-athlete's first choice" is being realized as the program grows in stature within the CAA and on the national level.

McElroy's athletic management career began in 1992 at the Naval Academy, where she worked her way up to Assistant Athletic Director, Director of Alumni Services and Senior Woman Administrator. Before joining Georgia State, McElroy spent time working at Georgia Tech. After first serving as Director of Compliance, she left Georgia Tech as Senior Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.

In 2008, McElroy was appointed to the newly-created Leadership Council, the NCAA's highest committee for athletic administrators. McElroy is a former Marine Corps Captain, 1987 graduate of the Naval Academy and 2000 graduate of Georgia Tech's MBA program.

As a student at the Naval Academy, McElroy played varsity basketball. A native of Great Mills, Md., she is married to fellow Naval Academy graduate, Terry (`86), and they have two sons, Darrin (18) and Austin (14).