Staff Directory
- Title:
- Deputy AD/Executive Director of MAF
- Email:
- Phone:
- (478) 301-4003
Brian Gerrity was promoted to Deputy Athletic Director/Executive Director of the Mercer Athletic Foundation in 2021, after leading the fundraising efforts for the institution’s athletic department since 2012.
Gerrity's tenure has seen the Mercer Athletic Foundation experience unprecedented growth -- highlighted by a 550 percent jump in unrestricted giving -- as well as the addition of several key programs that bolstered support for Mercer Athletics. In the fall of 2013, Gerrity introduced the BEAR PLUS program, a priority seating and parking venture centered around the return of Mercer football. He created the 400 Fund in 2014, a program that helps defray the cost of athletic scholarships.
Gerrity also spearheaded Mercer securing naming rights for Five Star Stadium (football), OrthoGeorgia Park (baseball), and Betts Stadium (soccer).
Under Gerrity's leadership, the number of endowments and scholarships have more than doubled, including the Mercer Women's Athletic Endowment, the Bert and Anne Vaughn Champions Fund, the Rush & Judy Peace Graduate Scholarship, and The 24 Fund.
Over the 2019-20 school year, Gerrity guided the Bears to two national partnerships. First was a partnership with Playa Society to celebrate and empower female athletes while simultaneously raising money for the Mercer Women’s Athletic Endowment. In May, the Bears’ announced its partnership with brand consultant Jeremy Darlow and his brand development course, “The Darlow Rules”, to help student-athletes plan for life after completion of their athletic days. Mercer was the first FCS school and Southern Conference institution admitted into the program.
Prior to joining the Mercer staff, Gerrity served as an Assistant Athletic Director for External Relations at the University of Hartford. In that capacity, Gerrity provided direct oversight of the marketing department and ticket operations while also acting as program administrator for the women’s soccer program.
During his time at Hartford, Gerrity was instrumental in boosting corporate sponsorship revenue by 31% over a two-year period.
His leadership at Hartford yielded a pair of National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) awards, in the form of a 2011 Silver Award for Electronic Promotion and a 2011 Gold Award for Sponsorship Program.
Gerrity got his start at Hartford in 2009 as the Assistant Director of Operations and Facilities, managing game operations budget, student, casual and professional staff, and game-day operations for home events.
In addition to articles in trade journals and the national athletic marketing think tank, BRAND FOOD, Gerrity is the author of Building The Bear, a book that chronicles the Mercer Athletic Foundation's growth between 2012-16. The book debuted at No. 1 in multiple categories on Amazon.
He was a member of the Bates College basketball team before graduating from the school in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, Gerrity ranked ninth on the program’s career scoring list with 1,209 points.
In 2009, he earned his Master’s of Education from Springfield College after two years in a Graduate Teaching Fellowship role. Gerrity resides in Macon with his daughter, Freida.
