Jim Cole assumed the duties of Director of Athletics for Mercer University on July 1, 2010. Prior to that, he served as MU’s Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs, heading up the Mercer Athletics Foundation (the fund-raising arm for Bears’ athletics) concurrent with his time as a State Representative in Georgia.

A native of Augusta, Cole entered Mercer on an academic scholarship in 1990 and lettered in baseball from 1990 to 1993. He was recipient of the Charles C. Morgan Outstanding Student-Athlete Award and graduated with honors from the University in 1993.

Cole was drafted as a pitcher by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1993 and was named the franchise’s “Organizational Player of the Year” and a finalist for the TOPPS Minor League “Player of the Year Award” in 1994.

After an injury ended his professional baseball career, he returned to Mercer in 1997 to earn his MBA while serving as a graduate assistant and pitching coach for the baseball team. In 1998 he served as pitching coach for the Madison Black Wolves minor league team in Madison, Wis.  Cole then entered private business before being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2004 (and serving in that capacity until 2010).

Cole served as the legislative voice under the Gold Dome for the constituents of House District 125 - which includes Jasper County and parts of Monroe, Jones and Lamar Counties. His legislative duties included membership on the Appropriations Economic Development Sub-Committee (to oversees important areas of the budget that deal with agriculture, community affairs, economic development and transportation). In addition, Cole served on the Rules, Judiciary Non-Civil and State Planning and Community Affairs Committees.

Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed Cole to serve as senior administration floor leader in early  2009, having served formerly as assistant floor leader from 2007-2008.

Even after leaving the political arena to assume the role as Mercer's A.D., Cole was called on  to continue his commitment of service to the people of the state of Georgia. In 2010, he was elected by his former constituents in Georgia’s House and Senate to represent the 8^th Congressional District on the state’s Department of Transportation Board.

Cole is an active community leader throughout the state. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Leadership Georgia, he is a member of Forsyth United Methodist Church.

Cole is married to the former Gaylyn Lawson of Forsyth, where they live with their two children, Caroline and Lawson.