FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University President Ángel Cabrera announced Wednesday a five-year contract extension for Assistant Vice President/Director of Athletics Brad Edwards that will run through the 2023 academic year. 

"I'm truly grateful to work under a dynamic leader in President Cabrera and I'm honored to continue to lead George Mason Athletics," Edwards said. "Our athletics staff is passionate and committed to the welfare and development of our more than 400 student-athletes. It is a privilege to work alongside such a talented group of coaches, administrators and staff. For the past three decades, I've had a special connection to George Mason and the Northern Virginia area (as a former Washington Redskins' safety who won a Super Bowl with the franchise during the 1991 season).

"I'm proud and honored to be part of this outstanding and world-renowned academic research institution that prides itself on international diversity. During my past four years as the director of athletics, the fans and donors of #MasonNation have been extremely supportive and dedicated to our athletics program. We are excited and encouraged about the strong progress we have made and look forward to a promising future."

Since arriving at Mason in July of 2014, Edwards has guided the department to significant achievements, including record-high revenues in sponsorships and fundraising. Edwards has secured more than $20 million in revenue and commitments, highlighted by a naming rights partnership with EagleBank, a multi-year partnership with adidas and a long-term corporate sponsorships agreement with Learfield. In addition, the department has secured a multi-year sports performance partnership with Vivature and has benefited from more than $5.8 million in generous gifts from Patriot Club supporters.

The men's basketball team has improved from 12th to fifth place in the three years since Edwards and President Cabrera hired coach Dave Paulsen, with its best finish in the five years in the basketball-centric Atlantic 10 Conference. The women's basketball team also enjoyed a successful 2017-18 campaign in which the Patriots set a school record with 24 wins, won a postseason game (WNIT) for the first time in program history and posted their highest finish since joining the A-10 (fourth).

"Brad is a strong and respected leader not just in the athletic program, but the university at large, our community, and intercollegiate athletics nationally," Cabrera said. "He has elevated the university's athletic profile, has improved our academic performance, and has made important contributions to establish the Atlantic 10 Conference among the best in the nation. Brad has a bold vision for Mason athletic programs and facilities and is a tireless advocate for the university. His continued leadership of our athletics department is a decisive win for Mason."

During Edwards' tenure, he has emphasized the importance of providing outstanding athletics facilities for Mason Athletics programs. He recently delivered a complete overhaul of the basketball teams' locker rooms at EagleBank Arena with new lockers and benches, a team lounge, a film room and upgraded technologies in time for the 2018-19 season.
 
The locker room transformation project is part of the George Mason Athletics Basketball Excellence Plan. The $2.2 million, privately-funded Phase I of the project includes the locker room renovation, as well as elements completed in 2017. Those elements include the programs' exclusive practice facility and the first-ever center-hung videoboard and lighting in EagleBank Arena. 

"As chairman of the Patriot Club, we couldn't be more pleased with the accomplishments and strong leadership Brad has provided for the Mason athletic department, and we are elated to see his vision continue with the contract extension," said Paul Kyle. "In four short years, Brad has been a difference maker, especially in transforming our facilities, including the dedicated basketball practice facility and the newly renovated basketball locker rooms in EagleBank Arena, providing our teams with the tools needed to compete on a national level."

The Mason baseball team played its 2017 season at Spuhler Field after a $1.3 million stadium renovation project, highlighted by brand new dugouts and a major league designed fence and backstop.
 
In Edwards' continued efforts on facility enhancements, the next step in the Basketball Excellence Plan, Phase II, will consist of complete design and construction of an addition to the Basketball Practice Facility. The scope of the project includes adding practice facility locker rooms, training and sports medicine performance areas and offices for the coaching staffs. 

George Mason teams have won 11 conference championships since joining the Atlantic 10. Under Edwards' leadership, 12 Patriot student-athletes have earned bids to NCAA Championships and Mason student-athletes have had tremendous success in the classroom. Five Patriots have earned Google Cloud Academic All-America Honors, marking the highest total in school history in a four-year period.

Mason has produced 129 Provost Scholar Athletes (3.75 GPA or plus) during Edwards' tenure. Additionally, Mason's A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll selections have doubled in just three years from 126 student-athletes in the fall of 2015 to a record 251 in the 2018 spring semester. Mason student-athletes combined to earn an overall 3.2 cumulative GPA in 2017-18, marking the highest composite in more than a decade.

Several significant achievements during Edwards' tenure as director of athletics include:

• Negotiated a five-year extension of the department's contract with Learfield, Mason's exclusive corporate sponsorship partner and multimedia rights holder. The extension included the first ever mid-court center hung scoreboard with video capabilities at EagleBank Arena. That enhancement that strengthened the in-game environment and overall game day experience for Patriot fans.

• Crafted Mason Athletics' strategic plan which included a $15 million Basketball Excellence Plan. The vision aims to strengthen financial resources and generate new revenue streams while extensively improving athletic facilities and fostering student-athlete success. Phase I of the plan is near completion with ongoing renovation of the EagleBank Arena men's and women's basketball locker rooms that will be ready this fall. The dedicated basketball facility, which opened in 2017, was a comprehensive renovation of the "Cage" gym at the Recreation Athletic Center (RAC).

• Mason Athletics signed a multi-year, million-dollar agreement with Vivature Sports, a training software and billing solution enhancing Mason's commitment to the well-being of the student-athletes.

• Giving to the Patriot Club hit records highs. The department fundraised $1.7 million in gifts and pledges in the 2016-17 fiscal year, reflecting an increase of 32 percent from 2015-16. The total marks the highest amount raised since 2007 when the men's basketball program was coming off an historic run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four.
 
• In July 2015, Mason Athletics formed a partnership with Adidas, worth approximately $2 million in equipment and apparel.
 
Edwards serves on several committees within intercollegiate athletics and the community. The DC Bowl Committee recently welcomed Edwards to the Board of Directors in October 2017. The Military Bowl serves as a premier regional college football bowl between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference. In the Atlantic 10 Conference, Edwards was elected chairman of the competition committee and serves on both the administrative committee and basketball advancement committee.

Prior to Mason, Edwards worked for three college athletic departments. He began his work in intercollegiate athletics in 1999 after a successful nine-year career in the NFL, joining the University of South Carolina athletic department, ultimately serving as the senior associate athletic director and chief financial officer. In 2009, he joined Newberry College as director of athletics and later served as senior vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics and Institutional Advancement. In 2012, he was named athletic director at Jacksonville University, where he spent two years before arriving at Mason.

Edwards also spent considerable time in the private sector as a financial associate for the Equitable Companies and as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch. In 1996, Edwards was featured in the Wall Street Journal for his dual work in the NFL and in the financial services sector.
 
Additionally, Edwards worked in the luxury resort real estate business as the vice president for recruiting and training for IMI Resort Holdings from 2006-2009. At IMI, Edwards was responsible for the recruitment and training of IMI's sales executives and sales managers for their various resort properties across North America, Central America and the Caribbean with combined gross sales in excess of $500 million. 
 
Brad Edwards Profile

Professional Experience
2014-present: George Mason (Athletic Director)
2012-2014: Jacksonville University (Athletic Director)
2009-2012: Newberry College (Athletic Director)
2006-2009: IMI Resort Holdings (Vice President)
1999-2006: University of South Carolina (Senior Associate Athletic Director/CFO)

Education
Bachelor's: University of South Carolina, 1991 (Business Management)
Master's: Michigan State University, 1993 (Education)
Harvard Business School's Strategic Marketing Management Program
Executive Management and Leadership Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduate of Sports Management Institute
 
Professional Playing Experience
NFL Draft: 1988 / Round 2 / Pick: 54 / Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings (1988-1989)
Washington Redskins (1990-1993)
Atlanta Falcons (1994-1996)
11 NFL Playoff Games
21 Career Interceptions (including playoffs)
650 Career Tackles
USA Today All-Pro Team 1992
 
Student-Athlete
Football: University of South Carolina (1984-88)
Second Team NCAA All-American
 
Coaches Played Under
Joe Gibbs, NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach
Emmitt Thomas, Zimmerman NFL Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Pete Carroll, Super Bowl Champion and NCAA National Champion Head Coach
Mike Holmgren, Super Bowl Champion Head Coach
Joe Morrison, Walter Camp College Football Coach of the Year
Curtis Frye, USOC Women's Olympic Track Coach and NCAA National Champion Head Track Coach
Bob Paroli, Top 20 All-time Winningest Head Coach in American High School Football
 
Personal
Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C.
Spouse: Marlana
Children: Sons Jackson, Thomas and Colton and daughter Hastings.
Hobbies: An avid runner and sprinter, having participated in 5K, half- and full marathons as well as 100-meter and 200-meter masters level sprint races.