Shorter University director of athletics Bill Peterson announced today the promotion of Chad Warner to senior associate athletic director.

Warner, who has served the past five years as Shorter’s head men’s basketball coach, will continue leading the Hawks’ hoop squad in addition to his new duties as senior associate athletic director.

Warner will supervise Shorter’s men’s lacrosse program among other administrative responsibilities.

“In addition to being one of the best basketball coaches in the country, Chad has been a real leader in our athletic department,” said Peterson. “This promotion simply formalizes something that has been in place for a long time.

“Chad loves Shorter and he loves Rome and he is committed to both,” Peterson added. “He had a number of other opportunities after last season, but he wants to be here. We could not be more pleased about his commitment to this school and to this town. Chad is a special person, both as a coach and as a man, and we are so proud that he is part of the Shorter team.”

“The past five years of my life at Shorter have been such a blessing to me and my family,” said Warner. “I feel very grateful to [Shorter President] Dr. Don Dowless and Coach Peterson for allowing me to serve in this capacity. I love this school and am thankful for the opportunity to be here.”

Warner’s promotion comes after the Rome native led Shorter’s men’s basketball program to its best season in school history.

The Hawks went 34-3 this past season, ascended to the nation’s No. 1 ranking, won both the Southern States Athletic Conference’s regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship Fab Four in the program’s first-ever national tournament appearance.

For his efforts, Warner was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) NAIA National Coach of the Year on the heels of his first SSAC Coach of the Year nod.

Warner enters athletic administration after 14 years in coaching.

The 1998 University of Georgia graduate spent four years as associate head basketball coach at Darlington school upon graduation before returning to Georgia as a graduate assistant under legendary coach Jim Harrick during the 2002-03 season. Warner then moved to NCAA Division III Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia where, as an assistant, Warner led the Tigers to a national No. 1 ranking and an Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship.

Warner was hired onto the staff at Division I William & Mary under accomplished head coach Tony Shaver where he worked from 2004-06. Warner then returned to Hampden-Sydney where he again helped the Tigers to the 2007 ODAC championship, the program’s record-tying 10th conference title, and the program’s 13th NCAA Tournament appearance.

Warner came to Shorter the next season, leading the Hawks to 19 wins in his first season in 2007-08 after Shorter had recorded single digit wins in each of the three seasons prior to his arrival. In five years at Shorter, Warner has amassed 108 wins and the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the program in 44 years.

“As we continue to move forward to NCAA Division II, I truly believe it will be all about the people,” Warner said. “I love the people we have here and look forward to seeing who joins us in the near future as we surge ahead.

“I am just very thankful that God has allowed me to be here and be a part of this family.”