Staff Directory

Jerome Garrison

Title:
Director of Athletic Development
Years at GCU:
5th year
Email:
Alma Mater:
GCU (B.ED. 2015, M.B.A. 2025)

Jerome Garrison joined GCU Athletics in 2022 and moved into the role of Director of Athletic Development in May 2026. In his current position, Garrison oversees all fundraising efforts for GCU Athletics and manages the Lopes Club, helping support the department’s continued growth through donor engagement, philanthropic strategy and revenue generation.

A Phoenix native and Mountain Pointe High School graduate, Garrison returned to Grand Canyon after leaving a lasting impact as a student-athlete. He was a four-year starter for the Lopes men’s basketball program while completing his undergraduate degree in education. During his collegiate career, Garrison helped guide GCU through its transition from NCAA Division II to Division I, earned individual honors and led the Lopes to a 74-46 record over four seasons. He remains 12th on GCU’s all-time scoring list with 1,265 career points.

After graduation, Garrison signed with a professional basketball club in Madrid, Spain, before his playing career was cut short because of his mother’s health complications. Upon returning to the United States, he began a six-year career in secondary education, serving as athletic director at Imagine Avondale and Glendale Prep for three years each. At both schools, Garrison focused on impacting lives and leaving programs better than he found them, driving capital sponsorships, facility improvements, campus collaboration, increased participation and state recognition.

Garrison’s passion for education, athletics and community building led him back to GCU in 2022, when he joined the athletics department in a student-athlete development role. He supported Lopes for Life programming, provided oversight and support to student-athlete development staff and served as the academic coordinator for the men’s basketball program before transitioning into athletic development. Garrison completed his MBA from GCU in spring 2025 and plans to continue his education.