Gamecock Athletics Announces Leadership Promotions

Four members of the University of South Carolina Athletics Administration have been promoted to new roles, Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati announced today.

Erin Abbey has been promoted to Executive Associate Athletics Director for Compliance, Risk and Regulatory Affairs; Clint Haggard to Executive Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance and Wellness; and Tyson Lusk to Executive Associate Athletics Director and Chief of Staff.  Maria Hickman, Executive Associate Athletics Director, Senior Woman Administrator and Director of Inclusive Excellence, will also take over responsibilities for Title IX compliance and student-athlete conduct.

“Erin, Clint, Tyson and Maria are outstanding administrators and proven leaders in our department,” said Donati.  “They bring tremendous energy, integrity, and thoughtfulness to our leadership team.  Their leadership presence aligns with our overall strategy of leaning into this dynamic time in college athletics and ensuring we can best position ourselves and our teams for future athletic success.”

In her role, Abbey provides high-level oversight and strategic vision for the Office of Compliance Services. She will take on an expanded role in addressing department-wide issues impacting college athletics in today’s regulatory environment, advancing operational effectiveness and institutional alignment while ensuring strong compliance and risk management practices.

Abbey will continue to serve as the compliance liaison for the football and men’s and women’s basketball programs, while also assisting other sport programs. She also serves as the sport administrator for the volleyball program.

Abbey joined South Carolina as Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance on Dec. 9, 2021. She was promoted to Associate Athletics Director in March 2024 and Senior Associate Athletics Director in November 2024. Before coming to South Carolina, she worked at Notre Dame, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Abbey is a 2003 graduate of Huntington University. She earned her master’s degree from Ball State in 2007 and her juris doctorate from Indiana University in 2010. She was admitted to practice law in South Carolina in May 2026 and is an active member of the South Carolina Bar.

Haggard will oversee South Carolina Athletics’ sports medicine, athletic training, mental health, strength and conditioning, and nutrition programs. He served 17 years as the Gamecocks’ head football athletic trainer before transitioning into the role previously held by John Kasik, who retired from Gamecock Athletics on April 30.

Haggard received the Southeastern Conference Sports Medicine Committee’s 2026 Chris Patrick Award, presented to the outstanding athletic trainer in the SEC as selected by the directors of sports medicine at each member institution.

Prior to his arrival in Columbia, Haggard served as Assistant Athletics Director for Medical Services and head athletic trainer at Rice University from 2006-09.

Haggard earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from Georgia in 2002 and his master’s degree in health sciences from Alabama in 2003.

As Chief of Staff, Lusk will serve as a liaison to University and city leadership, support government relations efforts, and help align departmental strategy and operations while continuing his donor relations and fundraising responsibilities.  He also serves as the sport administrator for the Gamecock men’s basketball program.

Lusk has been at South Carolina since 2013, initially serving as Director of Baseball Operations before transitioning to the Gamecock Club in 2019. He was elevated to Chief Development Officer and Senior Associate Athletics Director in 2024.

Lusk served as president of the USC Staff Senate in 2023-24, representing a significant leadership role within the University community. He previously served as vice president and parliamentarian of the Staff Senate.

Lusk is a 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina and holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University.

Hickman arrived at USC in 2007 and served as an academic advisor for football.  Throughout the years, she was promoted to Director of Academics and assisted with building academic excellence while graduating student-athletes at a high percentage.  She was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Development on January 1, 2013, to oversee the Dodie Anderson Academic Center and the daily academic and student development operation for all student-athletes.  In 2015, she was promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Student Development.

In addition to her new oversights, Hickman also serves as the sport administrator for women’s basketball and beach volleyball, has oversight of sport administrator meetings,  and oversees the creation and oversight of the department’s inclusive excellence plan.

A native of Statesville, N.C., Hickman graduated from Mars Hill College with a dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and sports management and earned her master’s degree in sport administration from the University of Louisville.  She worked at the University of Richmond before coming to South Carolina.