Georgias football operations director resigns amid investigation

ATHENS — Josh Lee resigned as Georgia’s director of football operations amid an investigation by UGA’s Equal Opportunity Office (EOO). The investigation concerned allegations of sexual harassment, according to people familiar with the situation.

In a statement sent to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution late Monday afternoon in response to requests for comment, Georgia Athletics would confirm only that Lee had resigned “to pursue other professional opportunities” and declined further comment.

Credit: Social media photo via Twitter

Credit: Social media photo via Twitter

However, in its response to the AJC’s open-records request seeking documentation, UGA cited a state policy [OCGA 50-18-72 (a)(8)] that keeps “material obtained in investigations related to suspension, firing or investigation of complaints” exempt from open-records review until 10 days after the matter has been concluded.

Georgia Athletics did not indicate whether the investigation has been concluded or how long it has been conducted. The AJC submitted its request for information last week.

Lee submitted his resignation Friday and vacated his office at the Butts-Mehre complex Sunday.

Neither Lee nor Athletic Director Josh Brooks responded to calls and messages seeking comment.

Lee is alleged to have sent inappropriate text messages to at least one of his direct reports over a period of time, according to several individuals with knowledge of the investigation. The AJC was told that the accusations were brought to Brooks’ attention in early October and that he immediately turned the matter over to the EOO. However, as recently as last week, Lee accompanied UGA personnel on scouting trips to the College Football Playoff sites.

Lee has been Georgia’s director of football operations since December 2014. He is responsible for organizing all team-related activities and oversees travel and budget. Lee graduated from Valdosta State in 2005 and was a volunteer assistant coach there in 2004, when the Blazers won the Division II national championship.

Lee first came to Georgia as a graduate assistant coach in 2005 and assisted with wide receivers through the 2006 season. He spent five years at Alabama-Birmingham as a director of football operations before leaving the business in 2011. Lee returned to Georgia in 2014.

UGA paid Lee $280,800 in 2020, according to public records.

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