Andrew Carter Named AASU Athletic Director

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State University athletic department announced today that Andrew Carter has accepted the position of Athletic Director, succeeding departing AD Dr. Eddie Aenchbacher, who retired on April 1. Currently the Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Newberry College in Newberry, S.C., Carter was selected by University President Dr. Thomas Z. Jones from an applicant pool numbering more than 170.

Carter will be introduced to the AASU community at a press conference on Friday, April 10, at Noon at the AASU Sports Center.

Carter has served as the Athletic Director at Newberry since 2002. In that time, he increased the visibility and success of the Newberry athletic department both on and off the competitive playing field. Newberry has won four of the past five South Atlantic Conference academic titles, while also leading 14 teams to NCAA Championships appearances after the school had collected just one in the previous 11 seasons.

He developed the “Newberry College Athletic Initiative” upon arriving at the Newberry, S.C., campus, a long-term plan to improve Newberry’s athletic program while maintaining the school’s excellent academic record. Other highlights include the beginning of an intercollegiate wrestling program that finished second in NCAA Division II in 2009; SAC Championships for football in 2006 and 2008, as well as SAC titles in women’s basketball and men’s golf.

Prior to Newberry, Carter served as the Director of Athletics at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Mo., from 1997 through 2002. He served as the baseball coach from 1991 through 1999, leading the team to seven straight conference titles.

Carter received his bachelor’s of science degree in business administration from Missouri Baptist in 1987, then earned his MBA from Lindenwood University in 1990. He and his wife, Rena, have six children – Aaron (21), Becca (19), Beth (16), Jake (14), Rachel (13) and Micah (8).

Carter and his family will relocate to the Savannah area this spring and he will assume duties at AASU no later than July 1, 2009. Until then, current head women's soccer coach Eric Faulconer will continue his duties as interim athletic director.