Mason Grounds is in his third year with Augusta University Athletics, serving as the Associate Athletics Director for Operations. Since beginning the role on May 1, 2023, Grounds has focused on elevating the game-day experience for student-athletes, fans, and community members while overseeing event management, facility operations, and game administration for Jaguar Athletics.
In his role, Grounds serves as the primary liaison between AU Athletics and AU Facilities, as well as outside contractors, for facility enhancements and construction projects—ensuring projects are completed on time and aligned with departmental needs. He works closely with signage partners to maximize branding and visual opportunities across athletics facilities and serves as the point of contact with BSN and Under Armour on matters related to team needs, promotional funds, equipment, rebates, and facility enhancements. Grounds also coordinates the department’s lodging partnerships, focusing on renewals and securing new partners each academic year. Additionally, he oversees Augusta’s Sports Performance
Department and its staff while collaborating daily with athletics personnel to support their operational needs and communicating updates directly to the Director of Athletics.
Prior to Augusta, Grounds spent four years at Clayton State University, where he was hired as the school’s first full-time Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2019. In 2021, he was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Performance and Operations, overseeing both the strength and conditioning program and all aspects of game operations, staffing, and facility support. His leadership extended to the conference level, where in 2022, he was named Vice Chairman of the Peach Belt Conference Athletics Performance Committee.
Grounds began his career in collegiate athletics as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M–Kingsville, where he designed and implemented programs for women’s basketball, volleyball, and track & field while assisting with football, baseball, and men’s basketball. He also gained valuable experience at the University of Missouri and Missouri State University, working across a range of Division I programs, including football, soccer, baseball, and basketball.
A native of Missouri, Grounds earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Movement Science from Missouri State University in 2018 and his Master of Science in Education from Texas A&M–Kingsville in 2020
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