Piedmont University announced the appointment of
Jamie Purdy as its new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in August of 2025. She is a 2000 graduate of Piedmont College and a longtime leader within the department.
Purdy steps into the position after a decade as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), where she has played a vital role in the oversight and growth of Piedmont's 22 intercollegiate sports.
Additionally, Purdy serves as the Senior Woman Administrator for Piedmont as the highest ranking female administrator involved with the management of the athletic program. In her role as the SWA, Purdy works with athletic administration in the decision-making process at the departmental level and acts as an advocate of female athletics while ensuring the quality of the student-athlete experience.
During her more than a decade as the leader of the women’s basketball program at Piedmont, Purdy has established herself as one of the most successful coaches in the South at the Division III level, highlighted by a USA South Tournament Three-Peat from 2017-2019.
During her time in Demorest, Purdy has amassed a 367-169 overall record for an outstanding .685 winning percentage with seven trips to the NCAA tournament and. Purdy has led two GSAC Players of the Year, a GSAC Freshman of the Year, two USA South Players of the Year, a Collegiate Conference of the South Player of the Year and earned GSAC Coach of the Year honors herself.
Purdy’s second GSAC Player of the Year, Gainesville native Sada Wheeler, was the program’s first WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association) All-American honoree in the school’s NCAA era earning honorable mention during the 2011-12 season. Wheeler was also a first-team All-South Region selection by D3hoops.com becoming the first such award winner for Purdy while Amari Price earned All-Region honors in 2019 becoming the second Lady Lion to do so.
In her first two seasons with the Lady Lions, Purdy set the tone for a successful career with back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances after GSAC Championships. With eight 20+ win seasons to her credit in 14 seasons at the helm, four of those have come in the last four consecutive years.
Purdy came to Piedmont from Middle Georgia College where she served as the head coach for two seasons. After inheriting the junior college program with no players returning for her first season of play, Purdy led the Warriors to the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association championship game in just her second year at the helm. Overall, the head coach tabulated a 31-21 record in her two seasons in Cochran, Georgia for a winning percentage just shy of .600.
The Piedmont alum was a familiar face around Lady Lion athletics long before taking the reins of the women’s basketball program. Purdy earned four letters in basketball at Piedmont under legendary former head coach Charles Cooper while also lettering twice in softball under current head coach Terry Martin.
In softball, Purdy won a Georgia Athletic Conference championship while also developing her commitment to defense under Cooper as one of basketball’s toughest defensive players. For her efforts in the green and gold as a student-athlete, Purdy was honored as an inductee to the Piedmont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000.
Purdy earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Piedmont College in 2000 before moving on to Georgia Southern University where she was earned a master of science in kinesiology with an emphasis in sport psychology in 2002.
She resides in Habersham with her husband, Ben, and five children.
Last updated 8/25
