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After two decades at the University of North Georgia (Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û), including more than a decade as director of athletics, Lindsay Reeves announced her retirement effective Dec. 31.

The two-time NACDA/Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year will leave a legacy of sincere and unwavering devotion to the student-athlete population at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û as well as faithful service to the greater campus community.

"Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û is an inspirational and absolutely wonderful place to have worked these past 21 years," Reeves said. "I am so grateful to have worked with such compassionate, deeply loyal and exceptionally talented coaches, administrators, faculty, and staff. They are tireless mentors and role models and they have been such a pleasure to work with. Above all, I appreciate all of the students and particularly the student-athletes. They are a joy and a constant source of energy, and it has been an honor and privilege to lead and serve them."

In 2009, Reeves was named the director of athletics for the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û intercollegiate program after investing five years as associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator. She is only the third athletic director in the history of Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û athletics and oversees 13 NCAA Division II sports, 50-plus athletic department employees, 10 facilities and more than 225 student-athletes.

"During her distinguished career as administrator, Lindsay Reeves has had a positive and lasting impact on countless student-athletes, coaches and staff here at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û," Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û President Bonita Jacobs said. "She has imparted a legacy of excellence and success on our athletic department and all of NCAA Division II. The entire Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û community owes Lindsay a tremendous debt of gratitude for her leadership and service."

Reeves is the first female director of athletics at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û. She has led the development and implementation of a diversity action plan to ensure and promote diversity among the university's student-athletes, staff and community. She is widely heralded as an advocate for all areas of athletic excellence, including team and student-athlete academic success and community engagement.

Under her leadership, Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's athletic programs have enjoyed prosperity on and off the fields and courts, highlighted by the Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û softball team being crowned 2015 NCAA Division II national champions. She has mentored teams to championships on the conference, regional and national levels and emphasized the total student-athlete development, which culminated with the school's first-ever Peach Belt Conference Commissioner's Cup in 2017.

In addition to competitive successes, Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's sports programs have championed the department's mission of total student-athlete development by teaching them the core principles of competition, integrity, fair play, personal character, and good sportsmanship.

Reeves' leadership reflects Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û's strong commitment to the overall experience of its student-athletes and the important roles of service, leadership and respect, and how these attributes contribute to their total experiences at Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û.

Prior to Õý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û, Reeves worked as the director of testing at the Sports Training Institute in New York before taking over as assistant director of health and fitness at General Electric World Headquarters in Connecticut. From 1990-1999, she was the director of employee wellness and a faculty member at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

In October 2019, Reeves was inducted into the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the 50th class.

A national search for Reeves' replacement will begin immediately.