Brocato named interim athletic director

Melissa Brocato, assistant athletic director for Internal Affairs and head softball coach at Augusta University, has been appointed interim athletic director effective immediately. She succeeds former athletic director Ryan Erlacher, who resigned on Dec. 8.

Brocato has been a cornerstone of AU Athletics since joining the university as head softball coach in 1998. Since 1998, she has served as compliance coordinator, senior women’s administrator, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee liaison and represented athletics on various campus committees. Brocato previously served as interim athletic director in 2022 and will continue leading the Jaguar softball program while fulfilling this interim role.

A native of King, North Carolina, Brocato began her career at Campbell University, where she coached junior varsity softball and served as a graduate assistant for academic services. She earned her bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s in education, both from Campbell.

In recent years, Augusta University athletics programs have made significant strides. The university has invested in major upgrades to facilities, including a multimillion-dollar renovation of Christenberry Fieldhouse that added a performance center for student-athletes, as well as enhanced seating and lighting at the baseball and softball fields. Augusta University has also been recognized nationally, earning back-to-back finalist honors for the NCAA Award of Excellence in 2024 and 2025. AU student-athletes demonstrated their commitment to service with more than 2,000 hours of community engagement during 2024-25, while excelling academically with a department-wide GPA of 3.38 – the highest in program history.

“Augusta University’s student-athletes, coaches and athletics department staff not only help represent AU in competition, but they are the catalyst to driving a spirit of pride for the life-changing, life-saving education, research and clinical care that makes Augusta University so special,” said AU President Russell T. Keen. “Coach Brocato is competitive and has a passion for elevating Augusta University. She and the entire athletics department will have the full support of our leadership team as we work to elevate the experience of our students, coaches and fans to one of unmatchable excellence.”

A search for a permanent athletic director will begin immediately.