Buffkin / Baker Recruits Director of Athletics for Middle Georgia State University

November 29, 2023 – Partner-led executive search firm Buffkin / Baker has placed Michael Brown as the director of athletics for Middle Georgia State University (MGA) in Macon. Partner Kenn Carrick and principal Janny DeLoache led the assignment. “The goal of transition to NCAA Division II is to provide student-athletes with enhanced opportunities for competition, as well as greater access to academic and athletic resources,” said Christopher Blake, president of MGA. “It highlights our commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics. With his 15+ years’ worth of experience in intercollegiate athletics administration, Michael Brown is well qualified to lead the Knights through this exciting new chapter. He brings a wealth of experience and a strong history in collegiate athletics administration. I am confident that with his deep understanding of the NCAA and its regulations he will successfully lead us through this process.”

Most recently associate athletic director for operations at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Mr. Brown will immediately take charge of shepherding MGA Knights athletics through its most momentous change in years – a transition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division II.

At Purdue University Fort Wayne, an NCAA Division I institution, Mr. Brown served on the executive athletic administration team. Previously, he served as senior associate athletic director for external operations at Palm Beach Atlantic University, an NCAA Division II institution. While there, Mr. Brown assisted the university president and athletic director in the institution’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, as well as full membership in the Sunshine State Conference.

“I am elated to join Middle Georgia State at this momentous time in the history of Knights athletics,” Mr. Brown said. “My vision is to see the Knights thrive as one of the top programs in the NAIA while we continue to pursue full-time membership as an NCAA Division II institution. My goals include collaborating with other MGA constituents to ensure student-athlete excellence in academics, the community, and in competition. I fully believe that this transition will see Knights athletics establish itself as a premier program within the Peach Belt Conference”

Related: Buffkin / Baker Recruits Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of San Diego

Middle Georgia State University currently competes as a member of the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC). Since becoming a member in 2014, the Knights have experienced athletics success, with numerous teams competing in NAIA championships. The university sponsors 10 intercollegiate varsity teams, engaging approximately 180 student-athletes across its Cochran and Macon campuses.

Higher Education Specialists

Buffkin / Baker is a specialty boutique search firm composed of industry leaders in their respective fields and each has over a decade of retained search experience. Their focus as search professionals is to recruit leaders in digital marketing/advertising, technology, healthcare, media/entertainment, finance, higher education, and non-profit. The firm serves public, private, venture, and private equity-backed companies. Its office locations include Nashville, TN; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Winston Salem, NC, with affiliate offices in London.


Recruiting Top-Notch Higher Education Leadership
In this brand new episode of ‘Talent Talks,’ Hunt Scanlon Media host Rob Adams is joined by Martin Baker, managing partner and Ken Carrick, partner from Buffkin Baker. Mr. Baker and Mr. Carrick take a deep dive into the current state of executive recruiting for the higher education sector and how this segment has been impacted by COVID-19. Listen Now!


Buffkin / Baker is a member of Panorama Search, an international federation of retained firms with 18 firms and over 30 offices globally. Buffkin / Baker formed in 2017 with the merger of the Buffkin Group and Baker and Associates LLC.

Mr. Carrick has managed numerous search engagements throughout his more than 36 years as a search consultant while cultivating a diverse roster of clients in the education, retail, non-profit, manufacturing, healthcare, and government sectors. Before joining Buffkin/ Baker, he served as president of a national retained search firm with dual headquarters in New York and Charlotte, NC.

Ms. DeLoache serves in the higher education practice. For over 20 years, she has provided research, sourcing, and candidate development on numerous search engagements, with a particular focus in the areas of education, non-profit, and governmental entities as well as sales and marketing. She also is active in client relations, consultations, and assisting clients with neutral site interviews. Additionally, she is an AIRS certified diversity and inclusion recruiter (CDR).

Related: Buffkin / Baker Recruits General Counsel for the University of Missouri 

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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