Year One at Gardner-Webb: A Message From Runnin' Bulldogs Vice President for Athletics Brendan Fahey
August 17, 2026 | General
Runnin' Bulldogs Nation,
When I was privileged to become the Vice President for Athletics at this incredible institution, I was excited by the immense potential of our athletic department. As I prepare to enter year two as your AD, my belief that Gardner-Webb Athletics can compete at the highest level is greater than ever.
We made extraordinary strides this past year, and I am eager to see what our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff accomplish in the upcoming season.
Over the past year, our teams have experienced success both on and off the field:
- Football: Won seven games, tying the program's highest win total in the past 20 years.
- Men's Soccer: Advanced to the Big South Conference championship game and maintained a national ranking throughout the season.
- Track & Field and Wrestling: Sent individual qualifiers to the NCAA Championships.
- Academics: Our student-athletes achieved a cumulative 3.45 GPA for the spring semester.
- Community Service: Our student-athletes logged over 2,500 hours of community service this spring.
Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, fans, and supporters, we also completed several key facility and program upgrades:
- Complete renovation of the student-athlete weight room
- Upgrades to the baseball facility and locker room
- Enhancements to the football locker room and stadium
- Renovation of the women's basketball locker room
- A complete redesign of the official athletics website
As the college athletics landscape evolves, we remain committed to competing in the era of revenue sharing in a fiscally responsible manner that aligns with our university's mission. Thanks to external funding, for the first time, we will inject a six-figure investment directly into our rosters through Cost of Attendance Grants, Alston Grants, and alongside third-party collectives. This investment directly supports our student athletes and enhances our competitiveness while staying true to our core institutional goals, without any added financial strain to the University.
Our department's purpose remains clear: we want to compete for conference championships, deliver an exceptional student-athlete experience, and prepare our student-athletes to excel in the classroom, serve their communities, and lead successful lives after graduation. As we press forward, I want to thank each of you for your support. As I noted during my introductory press conference, the difference between winning and losing is often measured in inches—and we are stronger together. The Runnin' Bulldog family's energy inspires us every day.
To build on this momentum, we are launching Team Excellence Accounts to directly support each of our varsity programs. Contributions to these accounts empower our alumni and fans to directly enhance our student-athlete experience. These gifts will allow us to elevate our operations and fuel championship pursuits. Beyond the financial impact, your involvement helps us stay connected, share program updates, and invite you back to campus events. We plan to launch these accounts by the end of the month!
https://gardner-webb.edu/give/athletics/
I hope to see everyone on campus this fall. We are about a month away from our home football opener against NC Central on September 19 at 6:00 p.m. Join us before kickoff to experience the new Tailgate Alley and Kids Zone and stay after the game for a special post-game fireworks show.
Come out and support the Dawgs! You can purchase tickets using the link below.
https://gwusports-tickets.vivenushop.com/
Thank you again for your unwavering support, and Sko Dawgs!
Vice President for Athletics
Gardner-Webb University
