Sudden leadership shift in AU Athletics as Brocato steps in as interim athletic director
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in chief
Augusta University students were notified Dec. 8, via email of an unexpected shake-up in the athletic department.
Melissa Brocato, who is the softball coach and oversees internal operations in athletics, has been named interim athletic director, effective immediately.
Her appointment follows the Dec. 8 resignation of former athletic director Ryan Erlacher, a change that arrived without prior public indication.
It is her second stint as interim AD. She was in that position between the retirement of long-serving Clint Bryant and the hiring of Erlacher.
Brocato is no stranger to the department’s administrative side. Since arriving at AU in 1998, she has taken on a wide range of responsibilities beyond coaching, working in compliance, serving as a senior women’s administrator, advising the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and representing athletics on key university groups. When she was interim athletic director in 2022, she still was the softball coach—as she will do again this time.
A native of King, N.C., Brocato’s career began at Campbell University, where she coached junior varsity softball and supported academic services as a graduate assistant. She earned both her undergraduate degree in exercise science and her master’s in education at Campbell.
Brocato steps in at a time when AU Athletics has seen noticeable progress. The university has invested heavily in improving athletic spaces, including recent renovations to Christenberry Fieldhouse that added a performance center dedicated to student-athletes. Baseball and softball facilities have also been upgraded with new seating and lighting. On the national stage, Augusta University has twice been recognized as a finalist for the NCAA Award of Excellence, in both 2024 and 2025.
Athletes across AU programs have also excelled in service and academics, contributing more than 2,000 hours of community engagement this past year and achieving a record department GPA of 3.38.
In his message to students, AU President Russell T. Keen, expressed confidence in Brocato and emphasized the broader impact of athletics on the university.
“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,” wrote 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.”
University officials declined to provide additional details about Erlacher’s resignation. When asked for further comment, Augusta University’s Vice President of Communications and Marketing Jennifer Scott said the university “does not comment on personnel matters.”
The university confirmed that the search for a permanent athletic director is beginning immediately. The Bell Ringer will continue reporting as more details emerge about this developing transition.
Note: At the top of the page, Ryan Erlacher speaks at the Fall KickOff at the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on Aug. 6, 2025. (photo by Michael Holahan)
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.