AMERICUS — Jaclyn Kaylor has been a student and a standout outfielder on the Division I level at Georgia Southern.
So she remembers what it was like to be a student-athlete. Kaylor believes that experience will help her as Georgia Southwestern’s Athletic Director as she strives to help the university become one of the premier universities in the Peach Belt Conference athletics.
“I’m a perfectionist, and I love a challenge,” said Kaylor. “This is a challenge and opportunity to take something that’s good and try to make it better. I really do love these kids, and I feel like I can do more for them through this office.”
Kaylor’s official first day on the job was Nov. 17, but her previous experience at GSW in her many positions prepared her for this opportunity. She has served as associate athletic director, compliance coordinator, sports information director, head athletic trainer and golf coach among other things at GSW.
Kaylor is one of about 55 female athletic directors, and at 30, is probably one of the youngest ADs out of the 282 Division II schools.
And with the university becoming an official member of Division II this season after a three-year process, she understands the road ahead being the smallest school in the Peach Belt.
“We’ve got a lot of hurdles in the immediate and distant future,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to seeing where GSW athletics are five years from now. We hope to have a conference championship in the hallway.”
The two biggest hurdles Kaylor feels the university needs to jump is obtaining a bigger budget and more exposure.
“We need to advertise ourselves more and promote our teams,” she said. “And in the overall big picture of budgets from across the conference, we are last by a long shot. Part of that has to do with our size. The institution is growing, which is a plus for us. The odds are stacked against us, but I think those are some things that will continue to grow.”
One of the first things GSW has done has been streaming the men’s and women’s basketball games online. They are currently pay-per-view right now, but Kaylor said there is a good chance they will be free starting in January. GSW is also currently looking to have apparel and other items appear in stores around town.
As for budgets, GSW is developing fundraisers that Kaylor hopes this will grow into a general scholarship fund for athletics. Of the 10 sports at GSW and of the 74.2 scholarships available to NCAA Division II schools, GSW has a total of 35.5 scholarships. And the programs are home to student-athletes from nine states and Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, England and Columbia.
“It really prevents us from doing as much or things as big as (the other schools) do,” she said. “But I think we’re doing a lot of things right.”
A couple of additions that have been made to the student-athlete experience is a mandatory study hall of six hours each week and a new lettering system for athletes in their respective sports.
If incoming freshmen have a grade-point average of 3.25 after their first semester, they are excused from study hall. Everyone else must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA to be excused, and if they don’t, they are required to attend until they pull it back up past a 2.5.
“This is an effort to prevent having student-athletes come here and be here one year as freshmen and being academically ineligible to continue,” said Kaylor. “We want them to remember they’re students before they are athletes. It’s new, but I think a lot of them are benefiting from it, like it or not.”
Compliance coordinator Jennifer Rodkey said while some things like the study hall may not be a favorite for the student-athletes, Kaylor knows what’s best for them.
“I think she has a great appreciation for the demands that are put on student-athletes,” said Rodkey. “She knows she needs to address them not only as a student, and not only as an athlete, but a combination. I think that’s something unique that a lot of people don’t have a very good perspective on. She’s been there, gone through it, and she’s focusing on the welfare of the student-athletes.”
A few long term goals include press boxes and concession stands at the soccer, softball and baseball fields. Kaylor said those things will go a long way in creating more exposure for the university’s programs and to recruitment.
Softball coach Eddie Ward said Kaylor has been nothing but an excellent addition and has great plans for GSW’s future.
“Her vision is to see us grow into a perennial power in the Peach Belt,” he said. “It’s a long process, and she knows that, and most of us on the coaching staff know that. We’re just excited about the fact we have somebody who’s young and energetic. She’s the reason why we’re a full member this year.”
The future appears to bright for GSW, and Kaylor hopes the success comes sooner than later.
“I think we’re showing glimpses of what we can be and what we will be if we continue along this course,” she said. “I think showing the rest of the school that there’s good things about athletics that are good not just for student-athletes, that if we prosper as a department, it will spread to the rest of the school.
“I think building a successful athletics program will be good for the whole institution. I know it will.”
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