Erin Mayes was promoted to senior associate athletics director, chief operating officer, and senior woman administrator in the summer of 2023. She joined the Furman staff in March of 2020 as the Paladins' associate athletics director for business and finance.
Mayes came to Furman following nearly four years at the University of South Carolina, where over the previous year there she served as manager of fiscal affairs, assisting the budget director in managing the Gamecock athletic department's $135 million dollar budget.
Mayes' duties in her most recent position in the Gamecock athletics department included coordinating and reconciling all recruiting official visits and the department's revolving account; serving as purchasing card liaison; and overseeing recruiting and conference travel expense report approvals for administrative personnel, coaches, and staff. In addition, she was tasked with expanding a leadership development program focused on middle-level talent.
She served as business operations coordinator her first three years at South Carolina and in 2017 assumed developmental duties associated with the Gamecocks' Beyond Sports Professional Development and Internship Program, which was designed to assist student-athletes in future success outside the competitive environment by providing real world experiences in their academic interests.
During her tenure at South Carolina she was recognized as a Bronze Award recipient for her work as a United Way Campaign Ambassador and also served as a campaign ambassador for the American Heart Association.
From 2014-16 she served as program development specialist and analyst with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in Atlanta, Ga., where as part of the program management team she assisted in executing talent management and development strategies within the areas of corporate and investment banking.
Mayes began her professional career at Georgia-Pacific Professional as a sales force effectiveness event coordinator, managing events ranging from 20 to 300 people.
A Columbia, S.C., native, she is a 2013 graduate of the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in international business from the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business, with a 2021 target completion date.
Mayes and her husband, Aaron, are the parents of a daughter, Ellie.
