Three longtime UGA Athletic Association officials fired

<p>Moving quickly to streamline the department he inherited from Vince Dooley, new Georgia athletic director Damon Evans eliminated the jobs of three longtime employees Friday.</p><p>Evans dismissed associate athletic directors Avery McLean, who was in charge of marketing and promotion, and Freddy Jones, who ran ticket operations. Evans also released Hoke Wilder, an assistant AD for standards and new sports programs.</p><p>"These are changes that are part of our overall restructuring process," Evans said in a statement. "The athletic association is deeply grateful for the service of all those who have held these positions and they have all made significant contributions to our association."</p><p>Evans took over as athletic director on July 1. Dooley, who has been with the school for 40 years, moved into a fund-raising position after university president Michael Adams refused a contract extension.</p><p>McLean had worked for the athletic association for 23 years, Jones 21 and Wilder 16. Another department official, associate athletic director for development Kit Trensch, announced her retirement this week.</p><p>Evans made it clear before he took over the athletic department that changes were coming.</p><p>"I want a more streamlined structure," he said in early June. "I don't think we will have as many people."</p><p>Before Evans took over, Jones said no one was taking their jobs for granted. He also said it was unrealistic to expect a new athletic director to keep the same staff in place.</p><p>"Now this is Damon's administration, and he's got to depend on the people he feels are most qualified, because now his reputation is riding," Jones said. "If it requires changes, regardless of who it affects, we'll all have to accept it, me included."</p>