Earlier today, the University of Georgia announced that PrizePicks founder and 2007 UGA graduate Adam Wexler would be donating $10 million to the basketball program.
Wexler’s donation is the single largest in UGA athletics history, per the press release from the school.
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According to the release, the money will go to personnel and operating expenses within the basketball program, with a portion going to the Athletic Director Excellence Fund.
“The University of Georgia has always meant a tremendous amount to me and my family,” Wexler said in the release. “Watching my father’s lifelong connection to this university shaped my appreciation for what Georgia represents: opportunity, culture, and excellence. There has never been a more interesting time in the history of collegiate athletics for donors to make a difference, and I’d love for this to be the start of something much bigger for the Bulldog community.”
The four seasons under head coach Mike White, UGA basketball has made the March Madness tournament the past two years, losing in the Round of 64 both times. White has not had a losing season at Georgia, posting a record of 78-57 thus far, with his team being ranked as highly as 18th this past season.
The operating budget for the basketball program last year ranked last in the conference, at $10.4 million. Wexler’s donation will double the budget, placing higher expectations and pressure on White’s program.
While the schedule has not been fully released, the Bulldogs will have a massive road test this fall, traveling to Chapel Hill to face Michael Malone’s Tar Heels in the Dean Dome on November 13th. This game could prove to be a stepping stone for both programs, as they look to move forward in their new eras.
