Dr. Daniel McCarthy joined the University of South Alabama Athletics staff in December 2008 and was named Deputy Athletic Director in August 2017. A member of the department’s senior leadership team, he plays a central role in shaping and advancing the strategic direction of the department, working closely with the Director of Athletics on priorities, resource allocation, capital projects, and long-term planning. His broad range of experience across both internal operations and external engagement provides a unique perspective and a well-rounded skill set in advancing the department’s goals and priorities.
In his current role, McCarthy serves as the sport administrator for football and softball and oversees several of the department’s external operations, including corporate partnerships, fan engagement, brand strategy, broadcast services, and communications. He provides strategic direction across a wide range of revenue generation and external engagement efforts. Under his leadership, Jaguar Sports Properties achieved a 90 percent increase in corporate partnership revenue from 2020 to 2024. Additionally, he led the university’s transition to Affinity Licensing in 2022, resulting in a 45 percent increase in royalty revenue within the first two years.
Prior to transitioning into his current role in 2020, McCarthy provided leadership across several core internal areas, including business operations, facilities and events, student-athlete academic services, and athletics compliance. During his tenure in this capacity, he oversaw the department’s transition to Adidas as the exclusive apparel provider—a multi-year agreement valued at more than $3 million.
Beyond his work within the department, McCarthy has been actively engaged in leadership roles at the institutional, conference, and national levels. On campus, he serves as a primary liaison with a wide range of university units to ensure alignment with institutional priorities. At the conference level, he has contributed to the Sun Belt Conference’s Name, Image, and Likeness Task Force, Branding Committee, and Governance Committee. Nationally, he has served on several NCAA committees, including the Progress-Toward-Degree Waivers Committee (2008–2012), the Committee on Academic Performance (2014–15), and the Committee on Institutional Performance (2015–2017).
Prior to South Alabama, McCarthy spent four years as Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Richmond, where he was responsible for coordinating and overseeing all facets of the Spiders’ comprehensive athletics compliance program. From 2003 to 2005, he served in a similar capacity at Mercer University.
Originally from West Point, Ga., McCarthy graduated from Huntingdon College (Ala.) in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in business management before earning a master’s degree in physical education and sport studies from the University of Georgia in 2002. In 2018, he completed his doctoral degree in educational leadership at the University of South Alabama. McCarthy and his wife, Amanda, have three children: Drew, Ella, and Hannah.
